1 in 7 Americans uses CBD products: poll
PRINCETON, N.J. — An estimated one in seven U.S. adults acknowledges using CBD-infused products, according to national polling data compiled by Gallup.
Fourteen percent of Americans say that they utilize CBD. Use is most prevalent among those between the ages of 18 to 29.
Those consuming CBD products were most likely to report using them for pain (40 percent), anxiety (20 percent), or insomnia (11 percent).
In December, Congress enacted legislation removing industrial hemp (defined as cannabis containing less than 0.3 percent THC) and products containing cannabinoids derived from hemp from the federal Controlled Substances Act. However, regulators at the US Food and Drug Administration have taken the position that such products cannot legally be marketed as either medicines, food additives, or health supplements. The agency has established a working group to address the issue, but has cautioned that regulations may not be forthcoming for some time.
DEA promises progress on federal cultivation applications
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has once again pledged to take action to better facilitate clinical cannabis research.
According to the agency’s filing in the Federal Register, the DEA “intends to promulgate regulations” to evaluate several dozen applications before it from private entities that wish to cultivate cannabis for FDA-approved research. However, this is not the first time the agency has made such a promise. In 2016, the DEA similarly announced the adoption of new rules to expand to supply of research-grade cannabis, but failed to take any further action.
“For the past three years, the DEA has failed to take any steps to follow through on its promise to facilitate clinical cannabis research, and today’s announcement makes it clear that this foot-dragging will continue,” NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri said. “According to the DEA’s filing, the agency has yet to even evaluate even one of the dozens of applications before it – many of which have been pending for more than two years, nor do they provide any timetable regarding when or if they ever will. In an era where public and scientific interest in the cannabis plant, particularly with regard to its therapeutic properties, has never been greater, and where patients in a majority of states are already using cannabis in compliance with state law, it is inexcusable that the DEA continues to take this ‘head-in-the-sand’ approach to this rapidly changing cultural and legal landscape.”
In June, one of the applicants seeking a DEA cultivation license – the Scottsdale Research Institute – filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia seeking a writ of mandamus to order the DEA to comply with its 2016 policy, arguing that the agency has engaged in unreasonable delays. On July 29, the Appellate Court ordered the DEA to provide a written response to the filing within 30 days.
Since 1968, only the University of Mississippi has been federally licensed to engage in the growing of cannabis for FDA-approved clinical research. Scientists familiar with the product have consistently said that it is of inferior quality and fails to accurately reflect the types of marijuana varieties commercially available in legal states. Further, the University only provides scientists with the option to access herbal cigarette formulations of the plant, not concentrates, edibles, or extracts. Strains high in the compound cannabidiol (CBD) – a chemical of particular interest to many scientists – are also not currently available from the University.
Ill. guv signs medical cannabis expansion law
kSPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzer signed legislation into law expanding the pool of qualifying patients eligible for medical cannabis therapy.
Senate Bill 2023, which took effect upon signing, permits physicians to recommend medical cannabis for patients diagnosed with autism, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis, and several other conditions. It also permits physician assistants and registered nurses to issue cannabis recommendations.
The governor also signed separate legislation into law (aka Ashley’s Law) mandating school districts to permit “a school nurse … to administer a medical cannabis infused product to a student who is a registered qualifying patient while on school premises.” The new law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Cannabis Culture news in the Blade is provided in partnership with NORML. Visit norml.org for more information.
Published at Mon, 02 Sep 2019 20:26:54 +0000