Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at a new delay in the rescheduling of cannabis, a practical guide to all things cannabis, a CBD chatbot and more. Enjoy.
Rescheduling News
It looks like it’s time to cue that Yogi Berra quote again. Clearly, the Schedule 1 status of cannabis won’t be over until it’s over. More specifically, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) hearing on the Biden administration’s marijuana rescheduling proposal is being delayed until 2025.
According to NORML, an order filed by DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney II states that designated participants should anticipate in-person hearings to begin in either January or February 2025. In addition, the judge is seeking further clarification regarding participants’ positions and how they “would be sufficiently ‘adversely affected or aggrieved’ by the proposed scheduling action to qualify as an ‘interested person’ under the [federal] regulations.”
NORML noted that 25 organizations and/or representatives have been selected by DEA to participate in the hearing — many of which represent interests that are opposed to the proposed rescheduling order.
Although NORML filed a Notice of Appearance and Notice of Intent to Participate in the hearing, and has been a party to past administrative petition efforts and hearings, it was not among those selected by the Agency.
Said NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano, “It’s always been a possibility that this process could drag out longer than many either anticipated or would like. The administrative process is cumbersome and, as we have seen historically, administrative challenges to marijuana’s Schedule I status take years to resolve.”
Armento added, “That said, unlike in the past, it is our political opponents who are presented with the burden of arguing against the findings of both HHS and the FDA — which has determined that cannabis does not meet the scientific criteria of either a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance. And it is unlikely that they will be able to do so. As previously determined by HHS, ‘The risks to the public health posed by marijuana are low compared to other drugs of abuse, such as heroin (Schedule I), cocaine (Schedule II), benzodiazepines (Schedule IV) and alcohol (unscheduled). These facts are not in dispute. As a result, I remain optimistic that common sense and evidence will ultimately trump ideology, and that advocates will one day be able to look back upon this process as marking the beginning of the end of federal cannabis prohibition.”
NORML’s public comments concluded: “The determination by HHS that cannabis use does not possess the same public health burden as does the use of alcohol (unscheduled), tobacco (unscheduled) or other controlled substances currently regulated in lower schedules of the CSA (e.g., benzodiazepines) is consistent with decades of worldwide scientific literature. While HHS ultimately recommends transferring cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, NORML wishes to emphasize that these findings similarly provide a factual basis for removing cannabis from the CSA entirely. Although the HHS is not recommending descheduling at this time, NORML asserts that this position is the most appropriate one and that descheduling cannabis should be adopted by future administrations.”
To learn more, we suggest reading the article posted on November 1, 2024 on the NORML website.
Notable Numbers
This week’s Notable Number is 15, as in 15 percent of the population of the U.S. According to a Gallup poll released November 1, 15 percent of Americans say they smoke cannabis. That is a small increase from the 14 percent average found by the pollster in 2021-2022.
That’s the word from TG Branfalt, reporting for Ganjapreneur. Branfalt writes that the poll revealed that men (17 percent) are more likely than women (11 percent) to say they smoke cannabis and adults aged 55 and older (10 percent) are less likely to report smoking cannabis than middle-aged (18 percent) and young (19 percent) adults.
Branfalt reported that the poll also found that smoking cannabis is more common among adults without a college degree (17 percent) than it is among college graduates (11 percent), the poll found, with Democrats (23 percent) more than twice as likely as Republicans (10 percent) to report smoking cannabis, while the rates among independents (14 percent) fell in between them.
When it comes to regions of the country, the West led the way with 19 percent of respondents acknowledging that they smoked cannabis. The South posted the lowest rate of consumption—11 percent.
Branfalt’s reporting is excellent, as far as it goes. However, what’s not immediately clear is whether or not individuals consume cannabis in ways other than smoking, how often they consume it and distinctions between medical and recreational use.
To learn more we suggest reading TG Branfalt’s article in the November 5, 2024 issue of Ganjapreneur.com.
https://www.ganjapreneur.com/gallup-poll-15-of-americans-smoke-cannabis/?
Cannabis Corner
Is marijuana the same thing as cannabis? How about hemp? And where does CBD fit in? Those who are new to the cannabis sector can find making sense of all the distinctions, when it comes to the plant, the products and the law, a bit daunting.
Fortunately, Greta Cross, reporting for USA Today, has created a reader-friendly guide to all things cannabis. Originally intended to inform readers in states where legalization initiatives were on the ballot, the value of the guide goes well beyond that.
Cross has created a comprehensive overview of the cannabis sector that is brief, to the point and grounded in fact and science without getting mired in partisan conflicts that can often cloud the issues surrounding the legalization of cannabis.
Topics covered in the guide include:
• What is marijuana?
• Are cannabis and marijuana the same thing?
• What is THC?
• What are cannabinoids?
• What are edibles?
• Is marijuana different from hemp? How?
When it comes to the content, Cross doesn’t get “lost in the weeds,” providing just enough detail to make the guide useful for those who are new to the world of cannabis.
Even if you are a regular reader of Senior Cannabis Digest and feel like you have the basics down pat, you may want to share Cross’s guide with your Aunt Edna or Cousin Lou before you engage in a discussion about the value of legalization.
After all, the holidays and extra time spent with family are just around the corner. Just sayin’.
Greta Cross’s guide to cannabis appears in the November 1, 2024 issue of USAToday.com.
CBD and Technology
It’s been reported that CBD makers and retailers often find that helping customers identify the right products can be challenging. Plus, online platforms often lack the personalized touch necessary to help customers who are seeking advice on products best suited for their ailments, such as pain, depression, digestion, and sleep-related issues. There are those in the industry who believe this gap in the market has long been a stumbling block for the CBD industry.
Fortunately, a company that has experience developing technology designed to enhance customer experiences—1606 Corp (Stock Symbol: CBDW)—has addressed this gap by creating a specialized AI ChatBot that has a single purpose: to address questions about CBD and recommend products that are most likely to benefit the customer or patient.
The company contends its AI-driven approach to customer service can be a game-changer for CBD retailers, making it possible for them to offer educated, personalized guidance to customers.
According to 1606 Corp., the introduction of ChatCBDW into the CBD marketplace marks a turning point in how CBD companies interact with their customers. By providing detailed, tailored information, the ChatBot can empower customers and transform their online shopping experience. The company believes this will boost customer satisfaction and make it possible for merchants to significantly increase their online sales by helping customers identify products that are specifically chosen based on their inputs to the ChatBot.
To experience ChatCBDW go to www.coolbluedist.com and ask the bot anything you want that’s CBD related.
https://cbdw.ai/the-dawn-of-ai-in-cbd-e-commerce-chatcbdw-revolutionizes-customer-service/
The Shape of Things to Come: Cannabis and Sports
The sport often referred to as the “sweet science” is the latest to normalize cannabis use by its participants. Nevada regulators have officially adopted a rule change that will protect athletes from being penalized for using or possessing marijuana in compliance with state law.
So says Kyle Jaeger, reporting for Marijuana Moment. According to Jaeger, the amended regulations still say that the commission adopts the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list of banned substances for athletes—which continues to include marijuana following the international governing body’s scientific review in 2022. However, the revised language carves out an exception for cannabis for fighters in the state.
The regulation says that “the possession, use or consumption of cannabis or cannabis products will not be deemed an anti-doping violation, notwithstanding the laws of the jurisdiction where the possession, use or consumption may have occurred.”
So, to be clear, the regulatory change applies to Nevada and not the sport in general. And, in fact, the amended rules will now go back to the state legislature’s Legislative Counsel Bureau for another review to make sure that any changes meet legal requirements. Then the proposal heads to the legislature’s Legislative Commission, which is composed of six members of the Senate and six members of the Assembly, who will decide whether it should be officially enacted.
Jaeger also notes that the Nevada State Athletic Commission already adopted the policy—informally—back in 2021, which it’s empowered to do under state statute, and has been waiving penalties for professional fighters who test positive for THC.
As always, Jaeger’s reporting is clear, concise and on point. To learn more we suggest reading his article in the October 30, 2024 issue of Marijuana Moment.net.
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.
