As a nearly unanimous French Senate gave medical marijuana the green light on May 28, France will start experimenting with the use of medical marijuana for “about two years.” According to patient groups, somewhere between 300,000 and 1 million patients could be eligible to use cannabis to manage symptoms of cancer, certain types of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, palliative care, and pain that does not respond to usual treatments. #france #cancer #epilepsy #multiplesclerosis #palliativecare #pain http://bit.ly/2WehBoY
Benjamin Caplan, MDFrance to launch medical cannabis experiment in coming weeks
Aside from medical benefits, the legalization of cannabis in India could bring about a multitude of benefits. The climate is good for growing the plant, so they could become a global player in terms of supply, all while giving the local economy a needed boost http://bit.ly/317NV0k
Bills protecting banks from federal punishment for doing business with companies in the cannabis industry are being submitted to Congress. While these bills have specific terms, they will open doors for permanent protection from punishment, which will let the industry flourish http://bit.ly/30Ya0OW
Benjamin Caplan, MDProtection for banks doing business with the cannabis industry
The Supreme Court of Brazil scheduled a voting session on decriminalization this coming Wednesday, but last week it was withdrawn from the court’s calendar. So, on Saturday, thousands of protestors gathered in Sao Paulo to participate in the March for the Decriminalization of Marijuana. Protestors begged lawmakers to decriminalize cannabis for both social justice and medical reasons. One protestor stated
“It is usually the poor and the blacks who get caught and sent to jail…You don’t see the rich kids from Jardins (an upper-class neighborhood) getting busted.”
In this sense, the protestor concluded, “criminalization becomes a weapon against the poor and blacks in this society.” Another protestor focused on the medical setbacks of criminalization, stating that, “I can imagine what it is like to have a son or daughter with a disease whose side effects can be reduced by the drug, but not able to get it because it is illegal.” Whether fighting for social justice or medical aid, the people of Brazil have spoken, and they encourage decriminalization. http://bit.ly/2W9ngNe
After a public hearing on Friday where researchers and health professionals urged the FDA to increase research into cannabis, FDA official Dr. Amy Abernethy tweeted, “We will work as quickly as possible to define a way forward.” The FDA is accepting further comments on a docket until July 2; it then plans to convene a workgroup co-chaired by Abernethy and Lowell Schiller to examine its next steps. http://bit.ly/2WevL9M
Benjamin Caplan, MDFDA Aims to Makes Sense of Medicinal Cannabis”
After vetoing legislation that would have expanded Iowa’s medical marijuana program, governor Kim Reynolds now says that she’d support ‘narrow and cautious’ expansion of medical cannabis law. Though patients using cannabis oils, creams, and pills need higher doses of cannabis to manage their pain, Reynolds told reporters, “I just felt [the bill] was too much of a jump.” http://bit.ly/2KnJwAF
Benjamin Caplan, MDIowa governor: ‘narrow and cautious’ expansion of medical cannabis law
Christine Stenquist is one of many American patients who uses cannabis to manage her addiction to opioids. She has now taken to Utah’s Capitol Hill to educate lawmakers on the benefits of medicinal marijuana. http://bit.ly/2KrroWv
Benjamin Caplan, MDUtahns fighting for medical marijuana, and the upcoming court battles challenging the Legislature
On Sunday, the Illinois Senate approved legislation that makes Illinois’ 2013 medical marijuana program permanent. The bill also expands the qualifying conditions for patients to be eligible for a prescription for medicinal cannabis, including migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and anorexia nervosa. http://bit.ly/2Kplo0q
Benjamin Caplan, MDIllinois Lawmakers Approve Making Medical Pot Permanent
