The New Caledonian parties of the Future in Confidence (AEC) and the UC-FLNKS want to remove cannabidiol (CBD) from the list of narcotic products in New Caledonia. Three requests have been filed in this regard, before the Congress and the government of the country, with a project to study the creation of a local hemp sector.

Amazing CBD since 2018

New Caledonia chose to classify the cannabidiol molecule in its list of narcotic products in April 2018. The motivation put forward for this classification remained quite summary at the time and was based on the psychoactivity of CBD, which provides its effects on the body. human without however generating psychotropic effects.

The previous year, however, the World Health Organization indicated that its consumption posed no risk to public health. And that CBD might possess some therapeutic value, although at that time further evidence seemed necessary.

“These additional evidencerelates the AEC in a press release, have just been made by recent studies carried out by various research laboratories and which corroborate the beneficial role of CBD in the treatment of epilepsy, as an immunosuppressant as well as its interest in the fight against addictions and in particular that of THC or even to cocaine. »

CBD is also legal in mainland France, without any restriction apart from the THC level of products containing CBD, which must not exceed 0.3%.

“In order to put an end to the inequality of treatment that currently exists between Metropolitans and Caledonians in terms of access to CBD, and following the results of the latest scientific studies showing that CBD has no addictive potential, the government to issue an order to remove CBD from the list of narcotic substances” requests the text of elected officials.

L’Avenir en Confidence and the UC-FLNKS are obviously not asking to legalize cannabis in New Caledonia, but simply to open up the possibility of marketing products derived from hemp and containing CBD such as herbal teas, oils or cosmetics. From local sources, these products are already on sale in New Caledonia but may be prosecuted.

“It’s a public health need”, explains Virginie Ruffenach, president of the AEC group, “of well-being too, and to allow Caledonians, like Metropolitans, like Europeans, like Americans, like people from Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland… to be able to have this product available in New Caledonia. »

Three wishes have therefore been tabled before the New Caledonian government and Congress:

• remove CBD from the list of narcotics
• authorize the import of EU certified products (excluding dried flowers) within the legislative framework applicable in metropolitan France, pending the establishment of a local production sector
• carry out a study aimed at setting up a local hemp sector, “intended for the production of textile fibres, building materials, CBD, etc”.

Regular Newsweed consumers will have noticed that we have been on hiatus for the past 2 weeks. But since the news does not await us, here is a recap of what has happened in the meantime on the planet Cannabis.

France

Nothing.

Europe

Germany, which is seeking non-disagreement from Europe on its legalization plan, has reportedly received “very good reactions” from the European Commission regarding the cannabis legalization plan, according to the German health minister Karl Lauterbach. The latter spoke to the German press and said that a revised legalization proposal would be put up for vote “in the coming weeks”.

At the same time, Germany’s Joint Federal Board (G-BA) has announced that there will be no change to the current medical cannabis insurance scheme. The G-BA’s initial proposal consisted of strengthening certain essential rules (prescription only by a specialist doctor, for example), which would have had the effect of reducing patient access to medical cannabis.

In the UK, a 2016 report by the Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), the government’s expert advisory body, suggested non-criminal sanctions for possession of drugs under the drug abuse – aligning penalties with the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. The report was ignored, then deleted, we learn in The Times.

UNITED STATES

The Delaware House of Representatives has passed a bill to legalize cannabis. The State Senate also voted in favor of legalization, prompting Congress to end cannabis prohibition.

As a cannabis decriminalization proposal moves forward in Texas, the majority of Texas voters want less stringent cannabis laws according to a recent poll.

The slow rollout of legalization in New York State could cost the state up to $2.6 billion over the next 8 years. A report suggests that “900 retail outlets are needed statewide to ensure sufficient market access.” New York plans to open 36 this year.

Delta-8 THC has generated $2 billion in revenue over the past two years in the United States, especially in states that have not yet legalized THC.

Canada

As Canada’s cannabis behemoths struggle to turn a profit, and small growers push for lower taxes on their products, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the government needs to “catch up” on industry concerns cannabis, especially with regard to the high taxes. Banking access also remains a problem.

Some producers ofedibles in Canada were trying to get around the 10mg limit of THC per serving by selling “extracts” (edibles), a category of products with a higher THC limit. Health Canada did not remain unmoved by this attempt at a small bridge and called various confectioners to order.

Rest of the world

Antigua and Barbuda has become the first country in the Caribbean to grant the Rastafari community official sacramental permission to grow cannabis.

Jamaica will support 16 communities and approximately 128 small traditional cannabis growers over the next three to four years as part of a program that aims to eliminate illicit cannabis cultivation by allowing growers to enter the regulated industry by the law.

UN

The United Nations-affiliated International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has criticized global cannabis legalization efforts, saying the reforms lead to “higher consumption, negative health effects and psychotic disorders”. .

He even suggested that the US federal government force states to repeal the legalization of cannabis to comply with international conventions, including that of 1961.

The INCB recalls that the 1961 treaty stipulates that Member States must “give effect and apply the provisions of this Convention in their own territory”, whether or not they have a constitutionally federalist system as in the United States.

The convention states that “unless a different intention appears from the treaty or is otherwise established, a treaty is binding on each of the parties throughout its territory”.

The INCB regularly opposes countries that adopt a progressive method of regulating drugs, without it having any way of forcing them to apply strict prohibition, which the international conventions do not require.

canna-industry

Sensi Seeds is releasing 10 new strains under the “Breeding Grounds” banner in partnership with Fat Beans and Humboldt Seed Company.

Red Runtz by Exotic Genetix won 2 prizes at Spannabis in the Indica category (Jury Prize and Popular Jury Prize). Plan to see it move quickly to your favorite plug – no guarantee that it’s really that.

Research

A recent study in 10 mice claimed that vaporized CBD was more harmful than vaporized nicotine, and while several news outlets reported on it, they all failed to mention the many flaws in the methodology. According to various experts, there is no way to demonstrate that the adverse effects observed are due to CBD and not to one of the many other products contained in the products (MCT, PG or VG), if indeed they were. really.

Voters in Oklahoma yesterday rejected a move that would have legalized cannabis for adults in the state.

In most counties across the state, the cannabis reform measure — State Question 820 — was the only proposal on the ballot, a unique scenario in the history of the legalization movement.

Supporters of the reform tried to get her on the November 2022 ballot, but delays in verifying the signatures needed to validate the referendum meant she was unable to qualify for that round of voting. ‘elections. In October, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt called a special election for the cannabis measure, which took place on Tuesday.

Statement on Tonight’s #SQ820 Election Results pic.twitter.com/M2bC40R4zq

— Yes on 820 Campaign (@YesOn820) March 8, 2023

Here is what the Cannabis Legalization Project would have achieved:

The measure would have allowed adults aged 21 and over to buy and possess up to one ounce of cannabis (28 grams), grow up to six adult and six growing plants for personal use. The current Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority would have been responsible for regulating the program and issuing cannabis licenses.

A 15% excise tax would have been imposed on cannabis products for adult use, with the proceeds going to a Oklahoma Marijuana Revenue Trust Fundan Oklahoma Cannabis Trust Fund.

The funds would have first covered the cost of administering the program and the rest would have been distributed among the municipalities where the sales took place (10%), the State Judicial Revolving Fund (10%), the general fund (30%), grants for public education (30%), and grants for programs involved in the treatment and prevention of substance abuse (20%).

Those imprisoned for activities made legal by the measure would have been given the option of “filing a motion for re-sentencing, quashing of the conviction and dismissal, or modification of judgment and sentence. People who had already served their sentence for such a conviction could also have asked the courts to overturn their conviction.

What if, tomorrow, my city legalizes cannabis? That’s pretty much the idea that crossed Clément Rossignol-Puech’s mind. When the environmentalist mayor of Bègles learns that the Economic, Social and Environmental Council recommends the government to legalize cannabis, neither one nor two, the elected Girondin grabs a computer and writes a letter to the President, Emmanuel Macron.

” Mister President, writes the mayor of this city of 30,000 inhabitants stuck to Bordeaux, I am sharing with you today my proposal to make Bègles a national experimental territory for the cultivation, sale and consumption of recreational cannabis. »

“When I pressed the ‘send’ button, I felt I had done my duty, welcomes the green city councilor to Newsweed. It was the first time that I publicly committed to the legalization of cannabis, even if it is a subject that I have known for a long time. »

“Local elected officials are in action”

For him, by offering his commune as a laboratory for legalization, he wants to show that “local elected officials are in action”. The elected Girondin imagines in Bègles “a place where we could sell cannabis in limited quantities, which would of course be reserved for Béglais, a place controlled by the State and linked to pharmacies”.

If the mayor comes up with this proposal, it is because he has the impression of being faced with a “bottomless pit”of “drain the ocean with a teaspoon”a frequent expression in the mouths of local elected officials. “In Bègles, there is a real problem of public tranquility due to cannabis trafficking. There are several places of sale near the tram stops. In the Terre-Neuve district, the traffic dates from the 1960s, while there have been several urban renewal plans since then. »

Clément Rossignol-Puech is not the first mayor to take a stand. Since 2014, the mayor of Grenoble, Eric Piolle has been repeating to anyone who will listen – including Newsweed – that we must legalize cannabis. The elected environmentalist of this city of 150,000 inhabitants insists that the mayors are “pragmatic” It front of “chin blows from Darmanin, Valls, Sarkozy who repeat that they are going to eradicate drugs when nothing changes”.

“Cannamaires” received by Olivier Véran

One would think that the mayors who ask to legalize cannabis in their municipality are all left-wing. Sweet dreamers, idealists. But we are wrong! In September 2020, between two confinements, three right-wing mayors signed a platform in the Sunday newspaper. The city councilors of Reims, Châteauroux and Charleville-Mézières – all inserted in Les Républicains (LR) – point “failure” of prohibition. They ask to authorize the plant in France.

A few days after this forum, these “cannamaires” as the newspapers quickly nicknamed them, went even further. They give interviews to the regional press and ask to test the legalization of cannabis in their municipality.

“We cannot go from an all-repressive model to legalization overnightjustifies Gil Avérous, the mayor of Châteauroux, contacted by telephone. For me, you first have to have a big meeting, like the “Assises du Cannabis”, where everyone exchanges their data. And in the process, we authorize voluntary territories to experiment with legalization. Then we see how it goes after a year or two. »

The one who is also at the head of the Villes de France association says to himself “ready to set up a file with the local agricultural sector”, if the State leaves the possibility to territories to test the legalization. But he won’t make a “slingshot” however.

The hype of these three mayors will pay off. They will be received by Olivier Véran for a breakfast at the Ministry of Health.

Cannabis included in the “special plan for Creuse”

In Creuse, elected officials have been asking the State for years to carve out a special status for the department so that it can cultivate “green gold”. And the hunting board has a hell of a trophy.

The socialist Eric Corréia, boss of the agglomeration of Grand Guéret, succeeded in having the word “cannabis” included in the Special Plan for Creuse, a government document which should help this fragile department to recover.

Page 12, “The State undertakes to examine the terms of implementation implementation of the final conclusions of the Scientific Committee on therapeutic cannabis in France ». Eric Corréia translates for Newsweed this administrative jargon: “After experimenting with therapeutic cannabis, the State may allow Creuse farmers to grow cannabis to make medicine. »

For this, the elected official (heavily) insisted that the word “cannabis” be black on white in the document. No small feat. Especially when he saw that the prefect of Creuse had “took the proposal at the fingertips”. He therefore wrote directly to the President of the Republic, so that he would not forget the “green gold” of Creuse. And he won.

In Switzerland, 300 inhabitants of Basel authorized to consume

French local elected officials will be able to draw inspiration from the Swiss neighbour. In the city of Basel, 370 volunteer residents will have free access to cannabis, provided they are medically monitored. This model could well pave the way for legalization across the country. Other cities such as Geneva or Zurich are already showing their interest.

If France wants to adopt this local model, it will need a small revolution. “Drug policy belongs to the national level, so local elected officials cannot emancipate themselves from this rulerecalls public law lecturer Renaud Colson. Moreover, local experiments in Switzerland have the agreement of the central government. »

“If we want to do it in France, the government should prepare a bill to define the contours of the experiment: to whom does it apply, in which area, etc. But it is quite possible, we did it well for the cannabis fine which was applied only in a few cities before being generalized. »

For the deputy Robin Reda, it is not tomorrow the day before that a text of this kind would arrive at the National Assembly. ” It’s political fiction, smiles the former president of the cannabis information mission. But, sometimes, the best fictions sometimes give very real results! »

As soon as spring hits France, the cannabis community is drawn south. And although the bathing season is still far away under the Spanish sun, things will soon heat up in Barcelona when everything revolves around the hemp plant from March 10 to 12, 2023 during the big Spannabis fair.

During three days of the show, exhibitors and professionals from the cannabis world will come together with the community to share, network and of course present what’s new in the cannabis industry.

International Cannabis Trade Conference

The day before Spannabis starts, the International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) will be held, a one-day B2B event that is one of the most important global cannabis-related events, primarily for professionals around the world.

Personalities from science, medicine and politics as well as important representatives of the cannabis industry will again give talks and talks this year at ICBC. Leading experts from around the world will gather at the Auditori Cornella on March 9 for a day of extremely valuable contributions to the conference proceedings and the best networking opportunities. Since 2019, ICBC, which since its inception has become the most important cannabis B2B event in Spain, has always been organized in synchronization with Spannabis.

Spannabis, the fair

As one of the largest cannabis fairs in Europe, Spannabis offers visitors an incredibly rich range of stands, products and experiences. More than 280 international exhibitors will present their innovations, while numerous speeches in the conference part will inform the public – about all topics related to the hemp plant.

The Spannabis Champions Cup

In Spain, the Spannabis Champions Cup has quickly become the most important national cannabis competition. The cup also enjoys a remarkable reputation internationally. This year, for the first time, the Spannabis Cup will have, in addition to the usual VIP jury, a public jury which will award its own prizes.

The VIP Jury Awards Ceremony will take place on March 10, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at the Spannabis Auditorium. The public jury awards ceremony will also take place on the evening of March 10, but in the evening from 9 p.m. in a room in the center of Barcelona, ​​where a party will also be held to which all participants are invited.

The Spannabis program

Of course, in addition to a lot of information and business opportunities, there should also be a relaxing experience around it, and of course music should not be missing. All possible musical styles compatible with the cannabis plant will also be part of Spannabis 2023: reggae, dub, dancehall, hip-hop, soul, jazz, funk, afrobeats, drum & bass, dubwise, neurofunk, electronic music and tropical rhythms . Creativity, music and dance will find an appropriate setting in a good atmosphere.

All information about the Spannabis 2023 Fair in Barcelona, ​​as well as your ticket, can be found here: spannabis.es

Research is one of the most exciting and promising areas of the emerging international legal cannabis industry. For many years, cannabis research was significantly hampered by cannabis prohibition policies, but things have changed in recent years.

Although there are still many barriers to cannabis research, many governments around the world are now beginning to facilitate it. In some cases, governments are even taking the initiative to fund these efforts.

Everyone in the world will benefit from ongoing cannabis research, whether they realize it or not. One of the many examples would be the current research leading to the development of new cannabis-based medicines for suffering patients. If you are not one of these patients, you can assume that you know one or are related to him.

Cannabis research goes far beyond the creation of medical products. The way cannabis is grown, harvested, processed and infused into consumer products is more sophisticated today than at any time in human history, thanks to research, innovation and the development of emerging technologies.

Even the way cannabis is consumed is undergoing a technological revolution thanks to the constant efforts of inventors and innovators. New gadgets and new methods of consumption often hit the legal markets, and it’s amazing what people come up with.

Almost every aspect and sector of the emerging cannabis industry will continue to evolve in the years to come, creating new obstacles and new opportunities. This is one of the main topics to be discussed at the upcoming International Cannabis Trade Conference, to be held in Barcelona on March 9.

The round table entitled ” Using Innovation, Technology, and Research to Improve Cannabis (Using Innovation, Technology and Research to Improve Cannabis) will provide an overview of current cannabis industry trends and what panelists envision for the future from a cannabis ecosystem perspective. research and technology. The roundtable will be moderated by Natalia J. Lavie (Manager, Cannabis Hub) who will be joined by:

• Ruben Valenzuela Moreno, co-founder of Cannabis Hub and technical director of Valenveras
• Božidar Radišic, project manager and founder of Research Nature Institute
• Carlos Ferreiro Vera, CEO of Phytoplant Research
• Frank JP Houben, CEO of Aptus

The International Cannabis Business Conference is the premier series of B2B (business to business) cannabis events in the world, with previous conferences having taken place in multiple countries across multiple continents. This series of events is owned and operated by cannabis advocates who believe in celebrating cannabis culture, in addition to providing world-class cannabis industry education and networking opportunities.

The International Cannabis Business Conference has once again teamed up with Spannabis, Europe’s largest cannabis trade show, to create another super must-attend event for anyone serious about succeeding in the emerging cannabis industry.

Over 1,000 people from over 40 countries will be represented at the International Cannabis Trade Conference in Barcelona, ​​including representatives from all sectors of the industry as well as leading international cannabis decision-makers and industry service providers. Attend this super-event in Barcelona to connect with investors, entrepreneurs, industry regulators and international policy makers and move up a gear.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is also planning other events in Berlin in June 2023. Book your tickets now before the conferences sell out!

Voters in Oklahoma head to the polls today to vote on a measure that would legalize cannabis for adults.

The measure would allow adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis (28 grams), grow up to six mature plants and six growing plants for personal use. The current Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority would be responsible for regulating the program and issuing cannabis licenses.

A 15% excise tax would be imposed on cannabis products for adult use, and the proceeds would go to a ” Oklahoma Marijuana Revenue Trust Fund“, an Oklahoma Cannabis Trust Fund.

The funds would first cover the cost of administering the program and the rest would be divided between the municipalities where the sales took place (10%), the State Judicial Revolving Fund (10%), general fund (30%), public education grants (30%), and grants for programs involved in drug treatment and prevention (20%).

Those incarcerated for activities made legal by the measure could “file a motion for re-sentencing, quashing of the conviction and dismissal, or modification of the judgment and of pain”. People who have already served time for such a conviction can also apply to the courts to overturn their conviction.

Recreational legalization is expected to bring the state more than $100 million in new revenue per year, or about $434 million between 2024 and 2028.

Kevin Stitt, the governor, opposes legalizing adult use, although he said last year that he thought the federal government should end prohibition to “solve many problems in all these different states” that have legalized cannabis. He also said last year that he believes Oklahoma voters were misled into approving an earlier initiative to legalize medical cannabis in 2018.

Republican Party leaders in the state and GOP lawmakers have also urged voters to reject Oklahoma’s recreational cannabis legalization measure.

A recent study by Inserm, the University and the CHU of Bordeaux has made the fat cabbage of the non-specialized press which hastened to attribute the sleep problems of young people in University to the consumption of cannabis.

Journalistic sleep

If it is attested that cannabis has repercussions on sleep, does it cause insomnia? What are the real effects of cannabis on sleep? Should I favor an indica or a sativa?

So many questions and, as often with cannabis, complex but factual answers.

Cannabis and insomnia: a French study

A team of researchers from Inserm (the institute that links juvenile cannabis use and unemployment) and the University and University Hospital of Bordeaux wanted to know if there was a correlation between cannabis use among young people and sleep.

14,787 student volunteers, members of the i-Share cohort, answered an online questionnaire to determine the frequency of their cannabis consumption and the quality of their sleep over the past three months.

In the panel composed of 75.5% women and an average age of 20.4 years, 3,030 (20.5%) students reported monthly cannabis use, 645 (4.4%) weekly use and 219 (1.5%) daily consumption.

Sleep disorders have been categorized into 4 stages: lack of sleep, poor quality of sleep, drowsiness or insomnia.

In the whole sample, 22.7% suffered from insomnia, 18.3% from drowsiness, 22.4% from poor quality of sleep, 52.5% from lack of sleep.

After adjustment, the likelihood of insomnia was significantly higher by 45% in cannabis users compared to non-users. Estimates increased steadily with frequency of use, reaching a 2-fold higher likelihood of insomnia in daily users than in occasional or infrequent users. The results were similar for the other sleep disorders.

The study concludes: “These results support the existence of an association between cannabis use and sleep disturbances, particularly insomnia, in college students. Although the direction and causation cannot be established in this context, these results suggest cautioning students and healthcare professionals about the association between cannabis use and sleep disturbances. »

The study does not conclude that cannabis causes insomnia but simply that people who use cannabis suffer from insomnia. Perhaps this is the reason for their consumption?

The study does not say, as it does not know which products are consumed, if they are smoked, vaporized or ingested, mixed with tobacco or not, what dosage, which terpenes accompany the cannabinoids, etc…

Effects of cannabis on sleep

So what are the effects of cannabis on sleep? Can we sleep better while consuming?

One thing is certain, we can in any case fall asleep better. Some varieties are more effective on sleep than others. The preconception is that indica cannabis strains are more soporific.

Cannabinol (CBN) present in greater quantities in slightly aged weed would also have virtues on sleep. Certain terpenes could also play on this register, making the determination of causality even more complex.

In terms of studies, cannabis does have an impact on sleep. In particular, some studies have shown that heavy cannabis use decreases sleep onset latency and spurious awakenings after sleep onset, increases slow wave sleep and decreases rapid eye movement sleep, basically improves sleep, while weaning has the opposite effect.

However, chronic cannabis users may develop a tolerance to the effects of cannabis, resulting in increased sleep onset latency and decreased slow-wave sleep that is essential for brain restoration, retrieval, and memory.

More recently, observational studies have revealed an increased frequency of sleep disturbances with increasing cannabis use among adolescents and young adults.