Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at a survey of cannabis consumers in Canada, using cannabis to manage the pain associated with arthritis, a change in cannabis policy for the NFL and more. Enjoy.
Spotlight on Legalization
Six years after Canada legalized recreational marijuana sales, the vast majority of consumers now say they obtain cannabis legally, with only 3 percent of respondents reporting purchasing from illicit sources.
In addition, when asked how they felt their cannabis use had affected other areas of their lives, respondents were likely to say that consuming cannabis was more beneficial than harmful.
These are key takeaways from Health Canada’s 2024 Canadian Cannabis Survey. Health Canada is the country’s national health agency and has published the report annually since 2017 in an effort to educate and raise awareness around the use of cannabis.
While we acknowledge that the U.S. and Canada are different in many ways, we believe the survey findings may shed some light on the experience of consumers who reside in a location with a more mature, legal cannabis market.
For starters, according to Ben Adlin, reporting for Marijuana Moment, seventy-two percent of those polled in the survey said they now purchase marijuana from legal stores or online retailers. That’s up from 37 percent in 2019.
Additionally, 15 percent of respondents said they usually get cannabis from a social source, such as a friend or family member, 5 percent reported growing their own or having it specifically grown for them and 2 percent said they typically buy marijuana from a storefront located in a First Nations community.
In his article, Adlin also makes the point that the new survey also indicates that rates of driving after consuming marijuana have fallen since 2019, while daily or almost daily use rates have been largely stable among adults and youth.
He also reports the survey revealed that the average age at which Canadians first try cannabis also appears to be rising since the legalization took effect. It currently stands at 20.7 years—up from 18.9 years in 2018.
In addition, Adlin writes that according to the survey, those who used marijuana within the past year were also better educated about the substance than other respondents. Specifically, they were more likely to be aware that edibles have a delayed onset and longer-lasting effects, that higher THC levels mean more significant impairment and that legal products are tested for contaminants. They were also more likely to acknowledge that cannabis can be habit-forming.
Ben Adlin does a first-rate job of untangling a complicated story. To learn more, we strongly suggest reading his article in the December 6, 2024 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
Sports and Cannabis
The National Football League (NFL) has announced that it has increased the amount of THC that has to be found in a blood test in order for a player to test positive for cannabis use. At the same time, it has reduced the fine for a positive test. The policy change was developed in cooperation with the NFL Players Association.
According to TG Branfalt, reporting for Ganjapreneur, a positive test for THC will now require 350 nanograms of THC per milliliter, up 150 nanograms. Also under the new policy, the fine for a first-time offense has been reduced from 50 percent of a player’s game check to $15,000 for the first violation. The fine for a second violation has been reduced from a full game check to $20,000 and a third violation will now cost a player two game checks.
In his article, Branfalt noted that the Associated Press reported that fines for missed tests will also be reduced and all players who currently have pending discipline for missed tests will have those missed tests excused.
The new policy follows a decision the League made in 2020 to no longer suspend a player for a positive test.
Branfalt also makes the point in his article that a number of former players, including Marshawn Lynch, Calvin Johnson, Rob Sims, Ricky Williams, Terrell Davis, Marvin Washington, Joe Montana, Eugene Monroe, and Carson Palmer, entered the cannabis sector as investors, owners or operators after retiring from football.
If you care to learn more, we urge you to read TG Branfalt’s article in the December 8, 2024 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/nfl-changes-cannabis-policies-to-increase-thc-threshold-for-positive-tests/?
The Shape of Things to Come
Soon, cannabis consumers will be able to leave home without it—at least in Massachusetts. Officials there have announced a plan to begin licensing adult-use cannabis consumption sites including cannabis tasting rooms, cafes, lounges, movie theaters, and more.
That’s the word from Graham Abbott, reporting for Ganjapreneur. According to Abbott, the plan calls for new industry licenses for establishments looking to allow the “social consumption” of cannabis.
In his article, Abbott reports there will be three types of social consumption licenses:
Supplemental: This license will cover pre-existing businesses, such as dispensaries, and is intended to allow a company to supplement its existing business model. On-site consumption possibilities can include tasting rooms, social events, and cafes and would allow for the consumption of cannabis products purchased on-site.
Hospitality: Regulators said these licenses are meant for “non-cannabis commercial business spaces,” and will allow unrelated businesses—such as yoga studios, movie theaters, and other creative possibilities to enter into the cannabis industry. These licenses would allow consumers to bring their own cannabis and purchase products on-site.
Event Organizer: These licenses will cover temporary social consumption sites for specific events, such as concerts or festivals, which last no longer than five days. The licenses will allow for both BYO and on-site cannabis purchases.
Abbott notes that final regulations covering the new license types are expected on December 17, 2024.
To learn more, we urge you to read Graham Abbott’s excellent article in the December 10, 2024 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
Cannabis News and Notes
A new study by investigators affiliated with the University of Central Florida, College of Medicine, suggests treatment with cannabis may help patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) experience less pain and more relief from other symptoms.
According to investigators, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are autoimmune conditions that affect a significant number of American adults. RA affects around 1.3 million individuals, while PsA impacts approximately 500,000 individuals.
Even after standard approaches for pain control, which typically include topical and systemic corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and other analgesics, the investigators found that many patients with rheumatic conditions continue to experience chronic pain, which significantly impacts their quality of life. To address their pain, patients often explore various treatment modalities, including cannabinoids derived from the Cannabis plant.
The study, which was published in the journal Cureus, was designed to investigate the outcomes reported by patients concerning the effectiveness and potential of cannabinoids in addressing short- and long-term pain in the adult rheumatology population.
The study collected the responses of 290 patients with RA and PsA who visited a rheumatology outpatient clinic from October 2019 to March 2020. Of that group, 84.9 percent (n, 247) reported a diagnosis of RA, while 15.1 percent (n, 44) reported PsA. Demographically, 82.3 percent (n, 238) were female, and 17.7 percent (n, 52) were male, with mean ages of 57.1 years for RA and 56.2 years for PsA.
Of that group of 290 participants, nearly 17 percent (n=40) of those with RA and nearly 12 percent (n=5) of PsA patients reported that they used cannabis. Inhaling it was the primary method of choice for the individuals with RA, while the method of choice for those with PsA tended to be topical/liquid.
The investigators found that those who used cannabis reported a significant decrease in pain after consuming it. Improvements in stiffness, fatigue, and swelling were also reported. In addition, the researchers reported that side effects were minimal, and most patients were willing to discuss cannabinoid treatment with their physician (80.9 percent RA [n=199], 86.4 percent PsA [n=38]).
The investigators believe the study sheds light on the self-utilization and the reported effectiveness of cannabinoids in managing symptoms associated with RA and PsA and that the reduction in pain was statistically significant, suggesting cannabinoids may help alleviate the pain associated with these conditions.
To read an abstract of the study, or a more detailed description of the research, both of which appeared in the October 25, 2024 issue of Cureus, click on the following link.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11585972/
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com and at 347-528-8753.
