Lifetime marijuana consumption among high school students has declined during the peak years of state-legal recreational cannabis legalization, a new report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows. The data appears to support arguments from advocates that creating a regulated marijuana market will not lead to increased youth use as prohibitionists have repeatedly warned.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his vice presidential running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) discussed marijuana decriminalization and other drug policy reforms during their first joint interview as a ticket this weekend.

Oklahoma cannabis users are on pace to spend twice as much this year compared to 2019. As of June, 2020, Oklahomans spent more than $385 million this year on medical marijuana. That's nearly the entire amount spent during 12 months last year, according to an analysis of data from the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

A Democratic U.S. senator says that if his party reclaims the Senate and White House in November, lawmakers will “move very quickly” to legalize marijuana regardless of where presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden stands on the issue. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) was asked about a variety of cannabis-related issues during an interview on Saturday, and he said Democrats are positioned to advance marijuana reform as soon as they have a majority in both chambers of Congress.

Medical cannabis (MC) use results in long-term reduction of migraine frequency and is associated with less disability and lower anti-migraine medication intake, according to a study published in Brain Sciences. Between 1% and 2% of the global population suffers from chronic migraine, and traditional preventive treatments can include antidepressants, beta-blockers and anticalcitonin gene-related peptide (CRGP) agents. While abortive medicines, such as triptans and opioids, are commonly prescribed to treat the condition, these medications carry the risk of adverse health outcomes.

Nebraskans who have worked on a long-running initiative petition campaign to get medical cannabis on the November ballot turned in more than 182,000 signatures and qualified 50 counties. The goal needed was 122,000 and 38 counties, giving the initiative huge support heading to the voters to decide in 2020. "Every one of these petition sheets that we're turning in today, and every one of the signatures that we're turning in, it has a story about it, about a Nebraskan who had the courage to help us collect and patients who need access across our state," said Lincoln Sen. Anna Wishart, who with Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld led the petition campaign.

Like a handful of other states pushing for cannabis reform this year, Nebraska’s efforts seemed destined to be thwarted by the coronavirus. Yet the state began reopening in early May, giving activists a two-month window to gather signatures to put a medical marijuana initiative on the November ballot. The unexpected opportunity has re-ignited activists’ hopes and energies, but victory remains far from guaranteed. On May 14, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana effectively re-launched their campaign. The group is now in the midst of a socially-distanced blitz to gather roughly 121,000 signatures (10% of the state’s registered voters) by July 3.

Two members of a criminal justice task force organized by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and former rival Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) recently discussed why they feel the criminalization of marijuana is an untenable policy, with one—a former U.S. attorney general—suggesting that even drugs such as opioids and cocaine should be removed from the criminal justice system’s purview. Another member, who is also a former federal prosecutor, argued that the former vice president’s proposal to decriminalize marijuana is insufficient and should be replaced with a call for broader cannabis legalization.

Many days, Nicole Hochstein asks neighbors in her Omaha suburb for their help in improving — even saving — her son’s life.She and her husband, Matt, are the parents of 10-year-old son Jayen, who has suffered from seizures since he was four months old.The Hochsteins aren’t asking others for money — just their petition signature.They are part of a statewide group of volunteers seeking to place the Nebraska Cannabis Initiative on the statewide ballot in 2020. Besides reaching out to their Papillion neighborhood, the Hochsteins have returned to their native Cedar County, Nebraska, for signatures.“I’m from Wynot, and Matt is from Hartington. We were in those two towns last weekend, and we’re returning this weekend to Laurel and Hartington,” Nicole said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the reaction so far has just blown me away. People have been so supportive.”

Leaders of ballot measures to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational uses in South Dakota rolled out for reporters a list of 50 people endorsing their efforts Wednesday.Brendan Johnson, a past U.S. attorney for South Dakota, is sponsor of Constitutional Amendment A. It would allow people who were at least age 21 to use South Dakota-grown marijuana, or to grow, transport or distribute it in South Dakota to people who are at least 21.A 15 percent excise tax on sales would be levied to pay for regulation by the state Department of Revenue, with any excess revenue to be split between state aid to public schools and state government’s general fund. The Legislature could adjust the rate after November 3, 2024.

The Montana Democratic party has formally endorsed legalizing marijuana as part of its platform.At the same time that activists in the state are collecting signatures for adult-use cannabis legalization ballot initiatives, the party adopted the policy change at an online convention held on Friday.The party said it supports the “removal of Marijuana from Schedule 1 of the Federal Controlled Substances Act,” one plank states.Members also backed adding language to the Montana constitution to “establish the legal age for purchasing, consuming, or possessing marijuana at 21 years of age or older.”The platform further calls more broadly for “addressing substance abuse as a public health issue, rather than a criminal issue,” among other reform policies.

The legal cannabis industry in the US has already created nearly 250,000 jobs, and that number is predicted to more than double within the next decade, according to a new annual jobs report by Leafly.

Exciting news: Our signature drive is resuming! We only have a few weeks before the deadline to submit, so it's time to get busy!We're asking all petition canvassers to follow mandatory safety guidelines while gathering signatures, including wearing protective materials (masks, gloves), providing single use pens to signers who do not have their own, offering hand sanitizer before and after signing, and maintaining at least 6 feet of distance at all times.

Roll aside, toilet paper, Oklahomans rushed to purchase another product in record volume last month, as medical marijuana dispensaries logged enough sales to spike tax collections by more than 25%.According to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, dispensaries remitted almost $9.8 million in state taxes during April. That includes traditional sales taxes and the 7% medical marijuana levy.The tally smashes the previous record of $7.8 million set in March, and is the highest month-to-month increase since last summer.An analysis of tax collections shows Oklahomans spent about $61.4 million on medical marijuana last month, or nearly $217 per licensed patient.

Once Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana volunteers and paid petitioners advocating for medicinal cannabis in Nebraska receive the green light, time will be of the essence for the group to get the 130,000 petitions by July 2nd, 2020. This deadline is crucial to ensure that the initiative will reach the ballot in November. Use this quick resource to find petition locations in your community throughout the state

Nebraska advocates behind a medical marijuana legalization initiative plan to push ahead with a modified signature gathering plan this month despite the coronavirus pandemic and will relaunch petitioning efforts once certain health directives are lifted in the state.While many drug policy reform campaigns around the U.S. have either suspended operations or shut down entirely, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana said it’s operations have only temporary been interrupted and will resume—with social distancing measures in place—to qualify for the November ballot.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said on Thursday that the contrast between states deeming marijuana businesses “essential” during the coronavirus outbreak while federal law maintains strict prohibition highlights the need for comprehensive cannabis reform.

The governor of Kansas says that medical cannabis legalization remains a legislative possibility this session despite lawmakers temporarily disbanding amid the coronavirus pandemic. But by and large, reform efforts have faced significant hurdles in recent months, including Nebraska.

A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit against the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) over the classification of marijuana last week after the plaintiffs announced they would not pursue an administrative policy change as the court had recommended.

A bipartisan group of 34 members of Congress is calling on House leadership to include language in the next coronavirus stimulus bill to allow marijuana businesses to access federal disaster relief that is available to other industries. “The state-legal cannabis industry is a major contributor to the U.S. economy and workforce, employing over 240,000 workers across 33 states and four territories, and generating $1.9 billion in state and local taxes in 2019,” the lawmakers wrote.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) isn’t necessarily confident that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is going to fight for marijuana legalization if elected.

Montana activists filed a lawsuit against the state last week, alleging that prohibiting electronic signature gathering for their proposed marijuana legalization initiative during the coronavirus outbreak is unconstitutional.

A coalition of hemp industry associations sent a letter to the head of the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) on Monday, urging the agency to extend access to certain coronavirus relief loans to farmers who cultivate the crop.

A former Amazon warehouse worker who sued the company after allegedly being fired over his use of medical marijuana is better positioned to win the case following a procedural ruling by a federal judge on Thursday.

Under a new labor agreement, the N.F.L. caught up to and in some ways leapfrogged Major League Baseball, the N.B.A. and other leagues that had already eased their rules as marijuana became legal in many parts of the country.Credit...

Researchers are calling for formal clinical trials into the efficacy of marijuana for treating opioid use disorder after a newly published study found that cannabis may ease many common symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

Charlotte Figi, a child with a catastrophic type of epilepsy who went on to inspire a CBD movement, passed away Tuesday at age 13. She will always be remembered for her grace and fighting spirit. A true icon and pioneer.

We must be ready!! Nebraska's Medical Marijuana petition is currently not having workers or volunteers out getting petitions signed due to COVID-19. Anna Wishart, the main legislative sponsor, feels confident the team in place can still get the petitions needed by July 2nd, 2020. They are looking forward to returning once it's deemed safe, but we must be prepared and not become complacent. There is much work to be done!

As residents across the country are staying home to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and non-essential businesses are being ordered to close, officials in states with medical or recreational cannabis have deemed the dispensaries essential as part of healthcare operations. However in Nebraska plant medicine is still considered illegal. Click now for more info including how all states with legal cannabis are reacting.

Captivating and informative op-ed in the Lincoln Journal Star by retired Police Chief Betty Taylor now with the Law Enforcement Action Partnership. She explains why states neighboring Nebraska have been right to legalize medicinal cannabis.

The 43-year-old former Nebraska Cornhusker Grant Wistrom, who in 2009 was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, was excited to discuss his new business venture — his new passion. Along with his wife, Melissa, the former Nebraska defensive end has entered into the medical marijuana business in Missouri, where in 2018 voters approved a medical cannabis amendment to the state constitution.

PIERRE, S.D. — Members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe passed a referendum to legalize medical and recreational marijuana on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, according to preliminary results from the tribe's election commission.

LINCOLN, NE — The Epilepsy Foundation of Nebraska has announced it is supporting a 2020 ballot measure that would establish a constitutional right for patients to use and access medical marijuana with approval from their practitioner. The endorsement comes at a critical time, as Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana works to expand its coalition and signature gathering efforts across the state.