NATIONAL NEWS

MIDWEST

THC EDIBLES AND DRINKS BECOME LEGAL IN MINNESOTA

Minnesota is a real oddity in the world of Cannabis. The North Star State on July 1 became the only state to allow adultuse THC-infused edibles and drinks – without legalizing marijuana itself. State residents 21 and older are now able to legally purchase edibles and beverages that contain THC, with the new law permitting the products to contain up to 5mg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per serving and 50mg per package. A 5mg THC edible can cause a high State residents 21 feeling for first-time users, but people accustomed to and older are now marijuana often require a larger dose to feel the effect. able to legally In most states where adult-use marijuana is legal, 10mg is considered a ”serving.” Weed devotees and medical marijuana patients, however, often prefer much higher purchase edibles and beverages that contain THC. doses – even measured in the hundreds of milligrams. THC products in Minnesota must be derived from legally-certified hemp, which contains trace amounts of the psychoactive compound, according to the law. But THC will produce the same effect whether it’s derived from hemp or marijuana.

HEALTH & SCIENCE

TRUCKING STUDY: LEGAL MARIJUANA MAKES FOR SAFER ROADS

It’s the first study ever on the impact of Cannabis legalization upon the trucking industry. And, guess what? It’s good news. A group of researchers from the University of Tennessee, University of Arkansas and Iowa State University found adult-use marijuana legalization actually reduced heavy truck accidents by 11% in the eight states studied. Six of the eight saw a decrease in truck accidents; just two saw increases. (The study is a preprint, meaning it hasn’t undergone peer review yet.) “We’re not saying definitively that legalization will reduce trucking accidents, but there is some evidence that legalization across the board doesn’t necessarily increase accidents,” said Iowa State University Assistant Professor Jonathan Phares. “There are reasons why accidents could decrease as a result of legalization.”

1.5

tons of marijuana was burned by Colombian police in July; the smoke enshrouded Medellin.

6

out of 10 americans want legal cannabis says new poll.

85% 4k

of Texans support Cannabis decriminalization.

pounds of medical Cannabis were bought by Arkansas patients.

8k

square feet is the size of California’s biggest Cannabis dispensary in Sacramento.

13k $1.3b

people were arrested for marijuana by the state of Pennsylvania in 2021.

was generated by the medical Cannabis industry in 2020.

aug. 2022

STORIES by STEVE ELLIOTT, AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF MARIJUANA