California Bill May Change State’s Cannabis and Hemp Industries
#californiacannabis – “On February 7, 2024, California Assembly Member Aguilar-Curry introduced AB 2223. The bill, if passed, would significantly change the state’s cannabis and hemp industries – for better or worse. Today, we’ll take a look at how AB 2223 could change both the cannabis industry and hemp industry in the Golden State.
First though, a brief caveat. AB 2223 was just proposed. The bill is certain to undergo changes as it winds its way through the state legislature. Those changes could be so significant that we end up with a different law at the end of the day. And of course, the bill may not end up becoming law…..
One Dead in Fire at Los Angeles ‘Clandestine’ Cannabis Extraction Lab
#californiacannabis – “One person was killed on Saturday morning and another is in critical condition after an explosion at a Los Angeles commercial building that housed what authorities say was a “clandestine” cannabis extraction operation. The fire and death, which occurred at a one-story commercial building in the Green Meadows neighborhood of L.A., is now being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department, according to multiple reports.
The LAFD responded to the fire after a 911 call to report the blaze was made at 1:17 a.m. on Saturday. As first responders arrived at the scene, heavy fire was visible at the seemingly vacant commercial building, and several small explosions could be heard within the structure, the LAFD reported on Saturday.
The first firefighters to arrive on the scene forced entry onto the property and into a portion of the well-secured building to begin an offensive attack on the fire. The firefighters retreated, however, after facing “ever-increasing flames, a series of additional explosions, the presence of unknown chemicals and physical compromise of the structure, that rendered it untenable,” including a collapsed roof….”
Read More: https://hightimes.com/news/one-dead-in-fire-at-los-angeles-clandestine-cannabis-extraction-lab/
Tax implications of cannabis rescheduling
#cannabisindustry – “Let’s pretend for a moment that cannabis has been rescheduled as a Schedule III narcotic. Great news, you are no longer subject to Section 280E! You now have many additional tax opportunities and consequences that you previously were not entitled to or did not need to explore. Here is what you need to know about the necessity of tax planning and all the complexities therein….”
Read More: https://www.cannabisbusinessexecutive.com/2024/02/tax-implications-of-cannabis-rescheduling/
Study Demonstrates How Cannabis Extract Triggers Melanoma Cell Death
#cannabisresearch – “A recent study aimed to detail the exact way a certain cannabis extract triggers cell death in melanoma, a type of skin cancer (1). Building on research that had previously been established, researchers in Australia sought to expand knowledge on the various molecular mechanisms of cannabis in producing anticancer effects in melanoma cells (1). Their study, “Evaluating the Mechanism of Cell Death in Melanoma Induced by the Cannabis Extract PHEC-66,” was published in the journal Cells in January 2024 (1).
Using “techniques such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), assays to assess the inhibition of CB1 and CB2 receptors, measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis assays, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) for apoptosis and cell cycle analysis,” researchers explored how the Cannabis sativa extract PHEC-66, which is mostly cannabidiol (CBD), inhibited cancer cell growth and triggered cell death (1)….”
Beyond the Magic of Mushrooms: Using Psychedelic Derivatives to Treat Depression
#psychedelics – “In a recent study conducted in collaboration with the University of California at San Diego and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Aguilar-Valles found that 2-Bromo-LSD, a non-hallucinogenic derivative of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) developed by Vancouver-based pharmaceutical company BetterLife Pharma, could be a game-changing treatment option for depression and anxiety.
“The most widely prescribed type of antidepressant medication right now are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, but it can be a trial-and-error process to see whether they work on a particular person,” says the Carleton researcher, noting that SSRIs can also cause unpleasant side effects like insomnia, stomach troubles and loss of sex drive.
“It’s virtually impossible to know who will be resistant, so people often spend years taking pills with minimal to no improvement.”
In contrast, early findings suggest that 2-Bromo-LSD could have fast-acting, long-term effects when it comes to treating mood disorders…..”
Read More: https://challenge.carleton.ca/using-psychedelics-treat-depression/
LA Cannabis Businesses’ Seized Items Up for Auction: Settling a $14.4M Debt
#californiacannabis – “In an unprecedented move, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) will auction off seized items from 10 Los Angeles-based cannabis businesses that owe a staggering $14.4 million in unpaid taxes. This event, taking place on Friday at a CHP parking lot in Los Angeles, marks the first time the CDTFA will sell personal property confiscated during cannabis enforcement operations….”