The U.S. Department of Justice is appealing a recent ruling by Federal Judge Patrick Wyrick that deemed it unconstitutional to prevent people who use state-legal marijuana from using guns. The Justice Department revealed in a filing to the Western District of Oklahoma U.S. District Court that it would appeal the ruling at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

The appeal announcement by the U.S. government comes just a month after Wyrick’s landmark ruling.

Although the two-page filing doesn’t elaborate on the arguments behind the ban, U.S. Attorney Robert Troester and Assistant U.S. Attorney David McCray will flesh the arguments out in future filings at the appeals court.

In early February, Wyrick ruled that the statute prohibiting marijuana users from possessing firearms was in direct violation of the second amendment of the Constitution. Wyrick dismissed charges against an Oklahoma resident who had been arrested and charged after police found marijuana and a handgun in his vehicle after a traffic stop. He based his ruling on an interpretation of a prior Supreme Court ruling where the justices created a precedent of policies that imposed restrictions on Americans’ gun rights.

According to this ruling, any restrictions to the second amendment must remain consistent with the legislation’s original ratification in 1791.

Wyrick noted that cannabis use does not automatically make one “unvirtuous and dangerous” as the drug’s “mere use” does not involve threatening, forceful or violent conduct. He said that the historical analogues the Justice Department was using to justify gun rights restrictions for marijuana users “missed the mark” and did not provide enough basis for a historical analogue.

A few months before that, then-Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried unsuccessfully tried to challenge a law that prevented medical marijuana patients in the state from purchasing and owning firearms. She and her co-plaintiffs went on to file an appeal at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on the basis that preventing medical marijuana patients from exercising their second amendment rights is unconstitutional.

In a May 2022 op-ed, Fried said that it was time for the federal government to catch up on marijuana, arguing that current federal cannabis laws are discriminatory and have a “widespread, negative impact on communities of color.” She said that the discrepancies in state and federal law are preventing thousands of people from gaining employment as well as access to capital, housing and education.

The gun rights under question affect individuals who use state-legal marijuana products, but those who use FDA-approved products, such as those that India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) hopes to successfully take through the clinical development process and attain FDA approval, can own firearms legally.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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Medical cannabis dispensaries have a growing selection of products for anxiety, pain, sex and other conditions, with many available strains having magical and evocative names such as Bubba Kush, Blue Dream and Chocolope. But what exactly does this mean? Do the various strains’ medical properties differ from one another? Or are the creative names merely marketing ploys?

Cannabis is not just a source of cannabinoids, as several studies have shown. The plants is an especially abundant source of therapeutic substances that humans have not yet fully explored. But to fully utilize the plant’s potential, society must move past its prejudices against marijuana and consider what the evidence unambiguously demonstrates about its therapeutic value.

The FDA has already taken steps in this direction by approving prescription medications made from marijuana, such as cannabidiol (CBD), dronabinol, nabiximols and nabilone. Nabilone and dronabinol are used to treat nausea, while CBD and nabiximols, which contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, are used for multiple sclerosis.

Cannabis contains at least 27 terpenes and 85 cannabinoids. Terpenes refer to fragrant oils produced by numerous flowers and herbs as well as possibly active, drug-like substances.

THC is the most common cannabinoid. It comes from THC acid, which contains up to 25% of the plant’s dry weight. Tetrahydrocannabivarin, which comes from tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid, also leads to a high when ingested or smoked in baked products. However, some cannabinoids, like CBD, do not cause a high.

Additionally, cannabis contains a number of monoterpenoids, which are small, aromatic molecules with a wide range of functions, including the reduction of pain and anxiety. The most prevalent monoterpenoid is myrcene, which can be used to ease muscle tension.

The market is flooded with numerous cannabis varieties, all claiming to treat a variety of conditions, over which the FDA has no control because it does not legally recognize marijuana. So, how can you be sure that the strain you select is legal and likely to have health benefits?

Every strain ought to have an analysis certificate that details the amounts of each active ingredient in the product you purchase. A majority of states have a cannabis control department that validates these certificates. Many certificates, however, fail to list the monoterpenoids content level since it tends to evaporate from the plant matter. Ask for evidence if you’re looking for a strain with a lot of linalool or myrcene.

It’s also important to remember that, although cannabis can treat a range of ailments, it can also exacerbate other disorders and have unpleasant side effects.For example, the legalization of recreational cannabis has resulted in the rise of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, a condition in which people experience uncontrollable vomiting after regularly consuming marijuana.

Additionally, high-THC marijuana strains such as Fat Banana and Royal Gorilla can make some people anxious and even go into psychosis.

The scientific community needs to conduct more research to help determine the proper, secure use of cannabis. However, the FDA’s refusal to acknowledge medical cannabis uses makes marijuana research funding a challenge. Perhaps the industry should think about supporting marijuana-related scientific research. Conflicts of interest, however, might become an issue, as we have seen with studies funded by pharmaceutical companies.

Startups such as India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are looking to leverage the potential of many of these cannabinoids in order to develop formulations that get FDA-approved for use in the medical system.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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California’s Cannabis Control Department (DCC) launched a $20 million grant program to help local governments increase consumer access to legal marijuana products. The Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grant, which is being hailed as the first program of its kind in the country, aims to give local governments the tools they need to increase access to cannabis products in marginalized areas.

According to the department, the grant program will make use of current licensing and permitting procedures to create and implement marijuana retail licensing programs in regions of California where cannabis use is prevalent, but consumers have little to no access to legal retail.

During the news release, DCC director Nicole Elliott stated that expanding access to the state’s retail marijuana market was a critical step in ensuring consumer safety and promoting a healthy market. The lack of retail access to cannabis has long been a major issue for the state, even causing annual sales to fall in 2022 for the first time since recreational marijuana was legalized in 2018.

Most areas of California are considered marijuana deserts since a majority of the counties and cities forbid retail sales, which severely limits the market’s potential growth. One such area is Orange County, which has no cannabis retail. The county, despite being the third largest in the state, only permits cannabis sales in four cities: Costa Mesa, Stanton, La Hambra and Santa Ana.

According to the DCC, California has about 33 counties that do not permit cannabis licenses, with nine of them having significant marijuana consumption. These counties, as well as the cities within them, will be given priority review in the event that they submit a grant application and set up a permitting program.

The department will start accepting applications for grants from March 10, 2023. There will be two phases to the distribution of grant funds, with the deadline for phase I funding being April 28, 2023. DCC also released grant guidelines, which described the requirements for applications.

Local governments that either don’t have a cannabis retail program or have plans to adopt one are qualified for grant funding. The grants can be used to fund environmental reviews, licensee and equity applicant assistance, permitted expenses and personnel costs. The program will first distribute grants totaling up to $10 million by June 20, 2023. Then the remaining $10 million will be made available to awardees after June 30 once the DCC begins issuing licenses, which could take as long as 2024 or even longer.

However, no such grant programs exist for companies such as India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) seeking to commercialize THC-based treatments for indications, including chronic pain and other clinical conditions.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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Missouri has expunged the records of more than 7,500 people who had prior cannabis-related convictions. The state legalized recreational cannabis last year after voters approved an amendment to allow adults aged 21 and older to purchase, possess and consume cannabis.

On top of legalizing recreational cannabis, the constitutional amendment also allowed individuals convicted of nonviolent cannabis offenses to petition for release from prison, parole and expungements of their records.

Riverfront Times reports that the measure kicked off a process of expunging cannabis offenses from criminal records. Misdemeanors have made up the majority of the cases that have been expunged so far, the report says, with courts expunging 6,121 nonviolent marijuana-related misdemeanors and more than 1,200 felony convictions.

Misdemeanors that involved driving under the influence of cannabis or selling cannabis to minors did not qualify for the expungement. Individuals who are currently incarcerated for qualified cannabis offenses qualify for the expungement and at least one person has already been released.

The expungement process is going faster than expected, said secretary of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Dan Viets. Viets coauthored the state’s recreational and medical cannabis regulations. Overall, it seems like Missouri is fast-tracking its efforts to implement recent cannabis laws.

Adult-use cannabis sales began earlier than expected and just a month after the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) said that it was nearly done drafting rules for the new recreational cannabis program. The department said in January that once the new rules were effective, it would begin approving requests from licensed medical cannabis dispensaries to convert their licenses and allow them to sell both medical and recreational cannabis.

The DHSS also said that it would begin taking applications to allow people aged 21 years and older to grow cannabis at home for personal use in enclosed and locked facilities.

Amendment 3 set deadlines for courts to complete expungements for people with nonviolent marijuana-related offenses. The deadline for people who are currently serving time for cannabis-related misdemeanors was March 8, 2023, while the deadline for expunging other crimes is around three and a half months away, the Times said. Circuit courts have until June 8, 2023, to facilitate the expungement of all misdemeanor cannabis offenses for individuals who aren’t under the Department of Correction’s supervision.

Furthermore, the state’s circuit courts have up to December 8, 2023, to expunge the records of people who had already served time for federal cannabis offenses that are now considered legal activities.

Meanwhile, significant strides forward are being made by companies such as India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC), which specialize in developing medicinal formulations from various cannabinoids, such as THC.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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Despite dozens of states legalizing cannabis use for either medical or recreational purposes, America’s illicit cannabis market is still going strong. Legal operators have struggled to compete with illicit sellers amid strict regulations and relatively high cannabis taxes that have made legal marijuana much more expensive than its illicit counterpart.

By the end of 2021, illicit sales of cannabis had reached close to $8 billion annually, doubling the volume of sales from legal operators and forcing many of them to close shop.

However, in California regulators are actively taking steps to reduce the illicit market’s stranglehold on the state’s cannabis industry.

Newly released data shows that the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has stepped up its efforts to curtail the state’s illicit market in the past two years. This campaign has seen a significant increase in court-issued warrants for illicit markets, eradication of illegal cannabis firms, seizures of firearms and arrests.

Statistics from the DCC show that the amount of search warrant operations increased by a whopping 150% from 62 in 2021 to 155 last year. There was also a 246% jump in illegal cannabis seizures from 144,254 pounds in 2022 to 31,726 pounds in 2022. Additionally, the number of arrests tripled to 56 while the total amount of illicit cannabis seizures in 2022 reached $243 million, an increase of 211% from around $78 million worth of illegal cannabis seizures in 2021.

In conjunction with other California agencies, the DCC managed to seize close to 439,800 pounds of illegal substances, worth almost $737 million in retail value. The agency destroyed 960,212 plants and confiscated 139 firearms from illicit cannabis operations. However, the hard cash confiscated in 2022 dropped by 77% from $7.7 million in 2021 to $1.8 million in 2022.

All of these efforts are meant to curtail the largest illicit cannabis industry in not just America but the entire world. This illicit market has made it extremely difficult for approved sellers to stay afloat, robbed the state of hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and contributed to environmental pollution.

With experts positing that California’s illicit market is double the size of the legal market, law enforcement agencies have had a challenging time reining in the runaway industry. As such, federal, county, and local agencies have been forced to partner up to deal with the state’s massive illicit cannabis market.

Lighter punishments for illicit cannabis possession have also made it harder for law enforcement to deal with illicit sellers, with  Sgt. Rich Debevec of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Marijuana Enforcement Team saying in a recent interview that most offenders are given tickets.

No such light punishments exist for entities operating within the purview of the FDA, which is why for-profit companies such as India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are taking their product pipeline through a meticulous preclinical and clinical development process so that once the THC-based formulations are approved, no questions will arise about their efficacy or safety profile.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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India Globalization Capital (NYSE American: IGC) is developing a cannabis-based investigational drug that is being tested for the first time ever on humans in an FDA-approved study. This is groundbreaking work that established its commitment as a pioneer in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, given there are no currently FDA-approved drugs to treat Alzheimer’s patients. “The company is developing its proprietary treatment, IGC-AD1, hoping to provide relief to the 55 million people worldwide struggling with agitation in dementia that results from Alzheimer’s. IGC is focused on revolutionizing the treatment of Alzheimer’s with its game-changing drug candidate. In phase 1 studies, IGC-AD1 shows potential to safely reduce the debilitating symptoms that impact millions of Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. Featuring a low dose of THC, the treatment is the first natural cannabis-based investigational drug being tested in human FDA trials to treat Alzheimer’s patients; it provides medical benefits without psychoactive effects. ‘As millions of Alzheimer’s patients continue to suffer from agitation, anxiety and depression, phase 2 clinical trials bring hope for a treatment,’ the company reports.”

To view the full article, visit https://cnw.fm/AgjeC

About India Globalization Capital Inc.

IGC develops advanced cannabinoid-based formulations for treating diseases and conditions including but not limited to Alzheimer’s, period cramps (dysmenorrhea), premenstrual syndrome (“PMS”) and chronic pain. The company has two investigational drug assets targeting Alzheimer’s disease, IGC-AD1 and TGR-63, that have demonstrated in Alzheimer’s cell lines the potential to be effective in suppressing or ameliorating key hallmarks of the disease such as plaques and tangles. IGC-AD1 is a low-dose tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) based formulation that is currently in a 146-person, phase 2B safety and efficacy clinical trial for agitation in dementia due to Alzheimer’s (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05543681). The company also markets two wellness brands, Holief and Sunday Seltzer. Holief targets women experiencing premenstrual syndrome and menstrual cramps and Sunday Seltzer is a lifestyle hemp-infused energy beverage brand. The company is headquartered in Maryland, USA, and has historically operated an infrastructure segment based in India.

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Cannabis reform activists in Wyoming ran into a wall after two measures meant to legalize medical marijuana and decriminalize cannabis possession failed to make it to the 2024 ballot. Wyoming NORML, one of the primary sponsors of the cannabis legalization measures, said last week that activists collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. However, the organizers did not gather enough petitions in two-thirds of Wyoming counties to meet the state’s required minimum percentage.

The activists said that despite failing to get the measures on next year’s ballot, they will continue working with lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session to bring the legislation to the floor and before voters in upcoming election cycles. Wyoming NORML executive director Bennett Sondeno noted that the road to cannabis reform in Wyoming will be difficult. He stated that although cannabis reformists in the state have plenty of backers in both the House and Senate, they have been prevented from acting with compassion and justice by “powerful string pullers and funders.”

Still, Sondeno continued, it was important for cannabis reform activists to keep the push for a ballot measure alive, stating that the campaign is hoping to work with state legislators to give Wyoming residents a chance to vote on cannabis legalization. He also said that the campaign is currently raising funds for professional petitioners to ensure that voters have the chance to decide on cannabis reform even if lawmakers remain resistant to the notion.

The campaign managed to collect 48,687 raw signatures for the medical cannabis measure and 47,426 signatures for the measure to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis. According to campaign organizers, these numbers were raw signature counts and had not been validated and authenticated by the state.

Even though the organizers met the state threshold of 15% of votes cast in the previous general election (41,776), they did not meet the 15% threshold from two-thirds of Wyoming’s counties in two counties. Previous efforts to get a measure onto the 2022 ballot were held back by poor weather conditions and the coronavirus pandemic that ultimately hampered signature collection efforts.

Sondeno says that the campaign is confident that future measures will qualify for the ballot, especially as the signature threshold will be lower after Wyoming’s latest midterm election cycle. He noted that the campaign will pool all of its efforts onto a measure to decriminalize possession and one to launch a medical cannabis program.

The medical marijuana measure would allow patients to purchase and possess up to 20 grams of “medical cannabis-derived products” and four ounces of cannabis flower.

On the other hand, the decriminalization measure would impose minor fines on individuals caught possessing up to four ounces of cannabis without any jail time.

For patients in Wyoming who had hoped to access medical marijuana soon, not all is lost. Many companies, such as India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC), are focusing on making pharmaceutical-grade medicines from different cannabinoids such as THC, and once those medicines are approved by the FDA, they will be readily available across the country by prescription.

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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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In light of the rising number of states that have legalized marijuana, the American Transportation Research Institute is seeking feedback from carriers on whether federal drug testing regulations for CDL holders should be altered. Currently, recreational cannabis is legal in more than 20 states, with Missouri and Maryland being the latest to legalize it.

The survey, which was introduced on Feb. 15, 2023, seeks to learn more about the impact legalized marijuana has had on the workforce in the trucking sector. Motor carrier executives and employees who are familiar with the procedures for hiring, retaining and testing drivers for drugs are invited to respond to the survey. Individuals can complete the survey online and submit their responses until March 17, 2023.

There are 24 questions in the survey; the questions cover topics such as hiring procedures for carriers, the handling of different drug offenses, and whether respondents have seen an increase in positive drug tests or candidates quitting when they are required to take a drug test.

The survey allows carriers to expound on certain topics, including:

• concerns about the impact of legalization on insurance rates and drivers
• preference between drug tests that measure a recruit’s or driver’s cannabis impairment or use within the past 24 hours as opposed to the current test, which can pick up use a few weeks prior
• number of cannabis-related positive tests submitted by a carrier to the FMCSA between 2019 and 2022
• drivers who have rejoined a company after successfully completing the necessary return-to-duty procedure.

ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee deemed research on the effects of legal cannabis a top priority for 2022. The group states that the new data will supplement its 2019 study on the impact of cannabis legalization on road safety.

According to driver data collected by the FMCSA from January 2020 to April 2022, 98% of testing results involved drugs rather than alcohol. At that time, marijuana outperformed all other drugs in terms of positive outcomes. In 2022, almost 41,000 truck drivers tested positive for marijuana use, a 32% increase from the year before.

Even though it’s unclear what caused the abrupt change, it’s important to note that the FMCSA withholds information regarding the number of driver tests. The increase in positives could thus be explained by an increase in the number of tested drivers.

Whatever the reason, ATRI claims the new information will assist carriers in overcoming the challenges that legalized cannabis may bring about.

Such challenges of legalized cannabis are unlikely to manifest when people who use marijuana medicinally begin accessing the pharmaceutical-grade cannabis-based formulations entities such as India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are taking through the rigorous development process overseen by the FDA and other regulators.

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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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• Government showing strong support for bills aimed at treating Alzheimer’s disease
• IGC’s leading drug candidate recently completed phase 1 of a safety and tolerability trial, and entered phase 2
• Company’s proprietary treatments have “the potential to revolutionize the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease”

Key legislation designed to fight Alzheimer’s has been introduced in Congress — or actually reintroduced: the NAPA Reauthorization Act was first introduced in the last Congress but is seeing continued support from the current group of elected officials (https://cnw.fm/xqOnK). Support for the treatment of Alzheimer’s is essential for organizations such as India Globalization Capital (NYSE American: IGC), a company pursuing effective treatment for Alzheimer patients suffering with agitation and other neuropsychiatric symptoms.

“The Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (“AIM”) are proud to support the bipartisan introduction of the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act,” reported a recent Alzheimer’s Association article. “Reintroduced [on Jan. 31, 2023] in Congress, the NAPA Reauthorization Act would extend the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act will ensure Congress continues to hear directly from scientists on what resources are needed to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease.”

According to the article, the act was first introduced in the 117th Congress, which convened in January 2021. At the time, AIM advocates worked to build bipartisan support for both the NAPA act, eventually landing 65 cosponsors in the House and 27 in the Senate, and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act, with 45 cosponsors in the House and 24 in the Senate. AIM representatives noted that they are working to expand that bipartisan progress with the 118th Congress.

“On behalf of the Alzheimer’s community, we thank the Senate and House sponsors for reintroducing these important bipartisan bills to continue the progress we have made in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other dementia,” said Robert Egge, Alzheimer’s Association chief public policy officer and AIM executive director. “These bills reaffirm our nation’s commitment by helping to secure federal investments in Alzheimer’s research and improve access to better quality care and support services for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. We look forward to working together to pass these bipartisan bills and help improve the lives of those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia throughout the nation.”

AIM isn’t the only organization focused on helping those dealing with Alzheimer’s. IGC’s leading drug candidate, IGC-AD1, recently completed phase 1 of a safety and tolerability trial and entered phase 2 trials. The study, which is the first in humans of a natural low-doses tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) compound plus another molecule, is designed to evaluate IGC-AD1 as a treatment for agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia. In addition, IGC has a second drug candidate: TGR-63. An enzyme inhibitor, TGR-63 has shown the potential to reduce neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s cell lines.

Both drug candidates have shown their ability to ameliorate beta amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s cell lines and improve memory in Alzheimer’s mouse models. Beta amyloid plaques are a key hallmark of Alzheimer’s and an important target of Alzheimer’s pharmaceutical drug development.

“We believe that IGC-AD1 has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease as the first and only low-dose natural THC-based formulation candidate currently undergoing FDA trials,” said IGC CEO Ram Mukunda (https://cnw.fm/Sjy1R). “Approximately 8 million people are affected by Alzheimer’s in North America and over 55 million worldwide. We believe the diverse population we have selected for this study will allow us to accurately look at both the impact of variations of the gene CYP2C9 that metabolizes THC, as well as APOE e4 a gene that increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

“This data will help us to further understand the metabolism of IGC-AD1 for a diverse population, which is important in treating a disease that has a global impact like Alzheimer’s,” he continued. “Through these and further trials, we look forward to establishing IGC-AD1’s efficacy in treating the symptoms related to Alzheimer’s disease.”

IGC develops advanced cannabinoid-based formulations for treating diseases, including but not limited to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain and even pet seizures. The company sells various brands of CBD-based consumer products, including Holief, which includes gummies and pain relief creams for women experiencing premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea (period cramps), and Sunday Seltzer, which includes a CBD-infused energy beverage. The company operates facilities in the United States under Good Manufacturing Practices.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.IGCPharma.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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On Feb. 21, 2023, Iowa Democratic legislators introduced a bill that would permit adult-use cannabis for recreational purposes. The proposed legislation would make it legal for adults 21 years and older with valid identification to possess cannabis with up to 500 milligrams of THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. The legislation, which has yet to be formally brought to the House, also establishes a tax on authorized cannabis sales and lays the groundwork for regulated commercial marijuana sales.

According to House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst, Iowans of all political persuasions have voiced their strong support for legalizing marijuana, and thus the legislation was not focused on politics but on the needs of the people. Additionally, she stated that the legislation was an opportunity for lawmakers to put differences of opinion aside and work cooperatively to accomplish a goal that the majority of Iowans share.

The measure also changes the classification of marijuana possession of up to a half ounce from a criminal offense to a civil offense, eliminating the criminal penalties. Additionally, the bill expunges convictions for nonviolent cannabis possession convictions and minimizes other possession convictions from felonies to infractions.

It gives the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Division (IABD) control over the marijuana market and permits regulated companies to distribute and produce cannabis through authorized dispensaries. To monitor regulated marijuana products and aid in preventing their diversion to the black market, the division is also mandated by the bill to implement a production-to-sale system for tracking.

The proposal to legalize marijuana imposes a 10% tax on commercial marijuana products, with the proceeds going to public safety organizations, schools and mental health institutions. County governments would also be allowed to add a 1% surcharge to local and state taxes.

According to Konfrst, legalizing cannabis in Iowa would prevent the tax revenue from being sent to neighboring states that have legalized the drug. Michigan and Illinois, which border Iowa, both permit the use of recreational cannabis.

According to a 2021 Des Moines Iowa poll, 54% of Iowans support legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Despite the overwhelming support, the legislation is unlikely to be passed by the GOP-controlled legislature. Republican Party leaders stated last month that they do not anticipate cannabis legalization legislation to pass this year. Steve Holt, the House Judiciary Committee chair, stated last year that while there is a need for disincentives in the law, he would not support the legalization of marijuana.

Meanwhile, some entities, such as India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC), aren’t waiting for cannabis prohibition to be ended countrywide. Instead, they have opted to take their products through the preclinical and clinical development process so that the FDA and other regulators can give those formulations the nod for use by patients with the ailments they target.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC

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