420 with CNW — New Study Suggests Cannabis Handouts Could Curb Drug Overdose Fatalities

A new study published in the “Journal of Harm Reduction” proposes that distributing free marijuana through harm-reduction groups could significantly decrease drug overdose fatalities and enhance the well-being of users. The study, focusing on a cannabis donation initiative in rural Michigan, marks the pioneering documentation of the harm-reduction approach in the United States, suggesting its potential sustainability contingent upon state regulations.

While acknowledging existing obstacles in marijuana distribution and regulation policies, study authors emphasize the perceived advantages recognized by harm-reduction practitioners. Those advantages include reduced premature mortality, enhanced life quality, pain alleviation, better recovery prospects and heightened safety for both communities and clients.

Spanning from September 2021 to May 2023, the observation involved 10 marijuana-experienced harm-reduction participants who received weekly marijuana allocations through deliveries or pickups. The suitability of the allocations was assessed by clinical staff based on interest and need.

Upon reporting their interactions with participants, staff highlighted numerous observed benefits. For instance, a patient (aged 50 years of age or older), having undergone complex spinal fusion surgery, previously struggled with alcohol abstinence but achieved complete sobriety during recovery, expressing gratitude for the pain relief provided by marijuana products. Similarly, a pregnant participant in her 20s, initially homeless and dependent on opioids and methamphetamine, reduced the frequency of substance use with the aid of donated marijuana products after actively seeking assistance from harm-reduction agencies to access treatment for opioid use disorder during pregnancy.

Examining data from a contributing marijuana company, the study unveiled insights into product varieties and donation scales. Notably, while flower products dominated medical and recreational sales, donations primarily comprised topical, oil and edible products. Furthermore, donation costs represented a mere 1% of overall gross sales, falling considerably below the anticipated annual donation volume.

The authors stress the necessity for further research to fully understand the effects on individuals, the implications for public health, the legal requirements and the best practices for marijuana donation. In light of the persistent overdose mortality linked to illicit fentanyl and synthetic contaminants, the report advocates for harm-reduction practitioners to uphold client autonomy and mutual aid, including the provision of safe psychoactive products to drug users.

While refraining from drawing definitive conclusions regarding the overarching efficacy of harm-reduction endeavors, the analysis relies on interviews with the program administrators, outlining the exploratory nature of the study and its focus on depicting the organic evolution of marijuana donation within a regulated state framework. Overall, the findings underscore the viability of such initiatives, notably the minimal contribution of commercial cannabis companies’ donations to their overall product inventory, affirming the potential scalability and sustainability of marijuana donation programs within harm-reduction frameworks.

Further studies may be needed to ascertain the best ways in which these donations can help those at risk of drug overdose death. As this concept becomes better understood, a clearer picture is likely to emerge of how cannabis legalization can be a major force for good in society well beyond allowing an ecosystem of ancillary businesses, such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR), to thrive around the mainstream marijuana industry.

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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of an article each business day at 4:20 p.m. Eastern – a tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. The 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. 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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420 with CNW — Veterans Groups Urge Biden Administration to Reclassify Cannabis

Leading U.S. veterans’ organizations are urging the Biden administration to promptly relax federal marijuana laws, aligning with a growing chorus of voices advocating for rescheduling the substance six months after a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Expressing their sentiments in a recent letter, the groups have called upon the Department of Justice, which oversees the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), to take swift action.

Highlighting the challenges faced by veterans of the United States Armed Forces when they return home, the coalition, comprising entities such as the Minority Veterans of America, AMVETS, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the American GI Forum, the Blinded Veterans Association and the American Legion, emphasized the importance of offering a broad spectrum of treatments to address both visible and invisible war wounds.

Currently categorized as a Schedule I drug, alongside drugs such as heroin, marijuana is deemed to have a high potential for misuse and no known medical uses. The HHS has recommended moving it to Schedule III, a significantly less-restrictive classification.

In October 2022, President Joseph Biden initiated a review of the federal cannabis policy, and insiders anticipate a formal decision from the DEA imminently, possibly within the upcoming weeks.

Although the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department isn’t allowed to refuse medical care to veterans who use cannabis in states where it is legal, the agency doesn’t cover prescriptions or offer medical cannabis as a treatment. Last year, a joint recommendation from the Defense Department and the VA advised against cannabis use for PTSD.

However, the veterans’ coalition argues that their members need this option, pointing to an American Legion survey where 82% of participants expressed a preference for federally approved medical marijuana treatment. The coalition underscored that without DEA action, many veterans are reluctant to discuss marijuana use with their VA clinicians, fearing repercussions.

Acknowledging the lengthy administrative scheduling procedure, the groups stressed the advantages of the DEA’s quick reclassification, which could include incorporation into the VHA, the biggest healthcare system in the nation.

Their appeal coincides with mounting Congressional efforts to reform federal marijuana policies. Bipartisan lawmakers from both chambers have proposed numerous bills related to cannabis and veterans, such as enabling VA providers to prescribe medical cannabis in legalized states and mandating marijuana studies on veterans with PTSD and chronic pain.

Public opinion increasingly favors cannabis legalization as well, as evidenced by a Gallup survey indicating that 70% of U.S. adults support it, including a significant number of younger voters and most Republicans.

A cohort of Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, recently pushed the DEA to take marijuana off of scheduling entirely, highlighting this as a once-in-a-decade opportunity for the Biden administration to take action.

Any change to the classification of cannabis at the federal level is likely to result in some improved regulatory environment for cannabis companies and ancillary businesses such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) as the red tape that goes with this industry can be stifling at times.

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420 with CNW — Poll Suggests 32% of Americans Would Resort to Black Market If Cannabis Only Available in Pharmacies

A recent poll indicates that almost one-third of marijuana consumers nationwide would return to purchasing from illegal sources if marijuana were to be rescheduled without preserving legal state marketplaces. The survey, conducted by a website that facilitates medical cannabis physician evaluations, involved nearly 800 respondents.

NuggMD.com reported that its survey findings showed that if cannabis was rescheduled, restricting its legal access to FDA-approved prescription medications, 32% of participants would head to the black market. An estimated 55% of respondents preferred using pharmacies to obtain cannabis, indicating a large preference for legal sources.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made a recommendation to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), urging the agency to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to III of the CSA. However, rescheduling would not automatically grant cannabis the status of a legitimate prescription medication. This is because the FDA adopts a distinct drug-approval process and typically excludes botanical substances as prescription drugs.

Despite this, the poll explores how cannabis users might react if their only access is through pharmacies, treating cannabis similarly to other Schedule III drugs. Drugs in this category are usually prescribed and available through pharmacies or under a physician’s supervision. The survey also provides insight into how users feel about possible marijuana schedule changes. Although 47% of respondents think that rescheduling wouldn’t impact their access, a sizable number — 77% of respondents — would rather purchase dispensary cannabis than depend on FDA-approved pharmacies.

Additionally, the poll reveals opinions about federal regulation. Significantly, 69% of respondents prefer separate state markets to a single federal market, and 85% of respondents support removing marijuana from the CSA rather than moving it to Schedule III.

Consumers also express a reluctance to involve the FDA or pharmaceutical companies in marijuana regulation, signaling a strong trust in state-controlled markets. Interestingly, a significant portion is willing to obtain marijuana, even if it means ignoring legal restrictions.

Although reclassifying cannabis from Schedule I to III could facilitate medical use and encourage the creation of FDA-approved medications, the process of doing so takes time. State-licensed dispensaries will probably continue to be accessible for both recreational and medical consumers until then.

There is also skepticism about products, such as raw cannabis flower, gaining approval. This skepticism highlights the need for substitute medical-grade products that can be purchased from pharmacies.

Despite potential changes, legal state markets are expected to remain, providing accessibility and lowering reliance on the black market.

It remains to be seen how the implementation of the expected rescheduling of marijuana will affect companies such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) that had found a lucrative niche serving plant-touching cannabis companies.

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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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420 with CNW — Congressional Researchers Highlight Shortcomings of Cannabis Rescheduling Recommendation

A recently published Congressional Research Service (CRS) report has highlighted the potential shortcomings of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) marijuana rescheduling recommendation. Last year, the HHS published a series of documents recommending that the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reschedule marijuana to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. HHS officials justified the recommendation on the grounds that cannabis currently has “accepted medical uses” and thus did not meet the conditions required of Schedule I drugs.

Rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III would finally make it legal for doctors to prescribe marijuana at the federal level and would be a major step forward for the country’s medical marijuana industry. However, Congressional researchers argue that the rescheduling recommendation has many shortcomings. The recent report outlined the legal consequences of rescheduling marijuana.

It noted that the country’s state marijuana markets would still be illegal at the federal level and certain cannabis activity-related criminal penalties would remain in place even if cannabis is rescheduled. According to the CRS, approving the rescheduling without any additional legal changes would not make the state legal recreational and medical marijuana industries compliant with the federal Controlled Substances Act.

The report said that while moving cannabis to Schedule III would make it legal for doctors to prescribe it, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would first have to approve cannabis medicines before federal law allows physicians to prescribe cannabis.

Additionally, the manufacturers and distributors of any cannabis products that receive FDA approval would have to register with the DEA and meet regulatory requirements for drugs in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act before they can begin handling their respective products. Medical marijuana users would also need to acquire prescriptions from licensed medical providers that will most likely be subject to different federal requirements. The report adds that the rescheduling will only change certain criminal penalties while some marijuana-related penalties would remain unchanged.

On a positive note, the report noted that the rescheduling would finally allow cannabis businesses to deduct their business expenses when they file their federal taxes, something they have been unable to do since the industry’s inception due to federal prohibition. The CRS report also said that regardless of how the rescheduling issue plays out, the Justice Department wouldn’t be able to interfere with state medical cannabis programs, thanks to an appropriations rider renewed annually by Congress since 2012.

As long as the rider remains in place, the report explains, players in America’s state-legal medical cannabis industry will be protected from federal prosecution as long as they comply with state cannabis law.

Despite these shortcomings revealed in the CRS report, cannabis industry actors and ancillary companies such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) are likely to see the rescheduling of marijuana to Schedule III as a step in the right direction. Other reforms can follow this significant step in due course.

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420 with CNW — UFC Officially Strikes Cannabis Off List of Banned Substances

During the last week of December, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced that was formally eliminating cannabis from its list of banned substances for athletes. The change in policy, which took effect on Dec. 31, 2023, also involves entering into a partnership with Drug Free Sport International, its sample collection and shipping company.

The UFC also revealed that it was amending its list based on historical findings, despite stating that it was modelling its list of prohibited substances after the World Anti-Doping Agency.

In 2021, the UFC adopted a policy change that protected professional fighters from penalizations over positive THC tests.

In a press release, UFC’s Hunter Campbell stated that the organization’s objective was to have the best, most progressive and most effective antidoping program in all professional sports. Campbell, the organization’s chief business officer, added that the organization would continue independently administering its drug-testing program, which ensured that all UFC athletes competed under equal and fair circumstances. He also highlighted that the organization was proud of the advancements it has made with its antidoping program over the last eight years.

Jeff Novitzky, senior VP of Athlete Health and Performance at UFC, stated that the updated program was the result of years of trial and error by the organization as well as the incorporation of input. Novitzky added that the antidoping policy was a document that would continue adapting and evolving as science supported changes that could further protect athletes that competed in UFC.

As the legalization movement grows across the country, a growing number of sports organizations are moving to amend their cannabis testing policies for athletes. For instance, the National Basketball Association and its players’ union signed a collective bargaining agreement in June 2023 that involved the removal of cannabis from the league’s list of banned substances and laid out rules permitting players to promote marijuana brands and invest in them, with some exceptions.

In July, the New York Media Softball League announced that it was launching a sponsorship deal with Cornbread Hemp, a CBD company based in Kentucky. The idea behind the collaboration was inspired by moves by teams such as the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals as well as Major League Baseball, which have also partnered with CBD businesses.

In September 2023, a National Collegiate Athletic Association committee gave its formal recommendation that divisional governing bodies eliminate marijuana from the banned substances list for college athletes. That same year, sports regulators in the state of Nevada voted to present a proposed regulatory amendment to the governor that would shield athletes from penalties over the possession or use of cannabis in compliance with state law.

The changing attitudes of sports bodies toward cannabis could help to remove concerns that some sections of the society may have had about this substance, and as the uptake of marijuana increases, ancillary companies such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) could do more business with marijuana industry actors looking to meet the growing customer demand.

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420 with CNW — Arizona Uses Cannabis Taxes to Give 18 Nonprofits Justice Reinvestment Grants

Arizona state officials recently announced that Arizona has started awarding the first round of justice reinvestment grants to nearly 20 nonprofits across the state. The state’s cannabis law, Proposition 207, created the grant program to support efforts such as substance-use prevention and treatment, public and behavioral health, mentorship programs and workforce development in economically disenfranchised regions.

Using funds drawn from cannabis taxes, the program would also support efforts to address the root causes of crime, reduce Arizona’s prison population, expunge certain cannabis-related criminal records and restore civil rights.

As per Proposition 207, the program receives 35% of Arizona’s Justice Reinvestment Fund, which is funded by 10% of Arizona’s cannabis sales tax revenue. An additional 35% of the Justice Reinvestment Fund is earmarked for county public health departments while the remaining 30% goes to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to address critical public health issues that affect Arizona.

Recipients of the first round of grants include Northland Family Health Center, Hushabye Nursery, Axiom Community of Recovery, Stuck Community Acupuncture, Cihuapactli Collective, Phoenix Indian Center, Friendly House, Persevere, Arouet Foundation, Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates (JAG) and Constructive Circles of Peace.

The rest of the 18 grants went to the Arizona Democracy Resource Center, Our Sister Our Brother, Southern Arizona Legal Aid, the Bambi Fundjust Communities Arizona, Regional Center for Border Health Yuma, and Regional Center for Border Health Parker.

A press statement from ADHS noted that the office “identified priority communities’” in Arizona and held 18 listening sessions to highlight public interest in services that participants believed would benefit their communities. This includes improving neighborhood safety and developing community spaces such as community centers and parks, providing training on cultural awareness, culturally appropriate health services, youth development, substance education and prevention services, technology training for former inmates, and increasing access to affordable housing and healthy food.

According to ADHS, all the projects that received grants represent communities from across the state and focus on the key areas detailed during the community listening sessions.

ADHA noted that the Office of Health Equity would create a “robust evaluation process” to make sure that the program funds projects that bring a positive impact by serving the intended communities. Such a program evaluation process would assess if grant applicants meet the outlined goals and use collected data to continuously improve the program, ADHS said.

Arizona isn’t the only state that has earmarked a portion of its cannabis revenue for community reinvestment. California recently announced that applications for $48 million in cannabis tax-funded community reinvestment grants were open. New Jersey has also opened an application round for the state’s marijuana tax-funded social equity program.

The benefits that cannabis companies and ancillary companies such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) bring through the taxes they pay in the different jurisdictions where they operate highlight some of the socioeconomic value of cannabis legalization.

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420 with CNW — Investment Bank Expects Cannabis to Draw Millions of Customers from Alcohol

Analysis by a multinational investment bank has found that cannabis has grown into a “formidable competitor” to alcohol and will draw tens of millions of users over the next five years while alcohol loses several million drinkers. The TD Cowen analysis estimates that marijuana sales will hit a whopping $37 billion in 2027 as more states legalize cannabis and launch legal sales.

Alcohol has been the main drug of choice for most Americans for nearly a century, but the beverage has been fielding increasing competition from cannabis in recent years. With 24 states legalizing recreational cannabis so far, tens of millions of Americans now have access to legal cannabis. Several more states are considering cannabis reform and will most likely legalize the drug over the decade, increasing access to marijuana to even more Americans.

TD Cowen’s Cannabis Beats Booze report notes that the cannabis category will gain 19 million past-month consumers over the next five years while the alcohol category will lose two million. Lead of the analysis team Vivien Azer says the report adds to a growing body of market research that has consistently pointed to cannabis as a disclocator to alcohol sales. She said the team was surprised to see an “even greater underperformance” in the alcohol category in states with legal cannabis markets.

Although alcohol sales are still far ahead of cannabis sales, analysts say the beverage faces a risk of decline as an increasing number of consumers, especially younger people, are substituting alcohol with alternatives such as cannabis. Prior studies have found that younger populations are drinking less alcohol and using substitutes such as cannabis and psychedelics.

The report estimated that states such as Ohio and Minnesota, which recently legalized recreational cannabis but are yet to implement cannabis laws, could bring in an additional $37 billion in sales in 2027.

Alcohol companies may have little trouble navigating the evolving customer trends in the short-term, but certain brands likely face “competitive challenges” in the medium- and long-term.

TD Cowen says alcohol would keep underperforming in states with legal cannabis markets with beer being the most at-risk beverage. On average, TD Cowen notes, the number of drinks taken on given occasions is lower in legal cannabis states.

Despite the impact cannabis legalization seems to have had on alcohol consumption in legal states, Azer doesn’t see alcohol companies entering the marijuana market until there is meaningful administrative or legislative regulatory change at the federal level.

As more people opt for marijuana in lieu of alcohol, cannabis product demand will increase, and ancillary entities such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) could also see their businesses grow as a result of this boom.

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420 with CNW — New York Regulators Give MSOs Nod to Enter Recreational Cannabis Market

In a significant development, multistate operators holding medical cannabis licenses in New York have received approval from state regulators to venture into the adult-use market starting Dec. 29, 2023. This approval comes one year after the state initiated recreational marijuana sales, signaling a notable progression in the unfolding narrative of New York’s adult-use cannabis sector.

The decision by the Marijuana Control Board (CCB) has long been anticipated, and it represents a pivotal moment that has sparked controversy throughout the rollout of the state’s recreational marijuana market. This move follows a ruling by the New York State Supreme Court on Dec. 1, 2023, wherein an injunction hindering the issuance of new recreational marijuana business licenses was lifted, clearing the path for regulatory authorities to greenlight the expansion.

During its meeting, the CCB gave the nod to six registered organizations, namely Columbia Care NY, Curaleaf NY, Etain, NYCanna, PharmaCann of NY and Valley Agriceuticals.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the state’s Office of Marijuana Management (OCM) had proposed allowing multistate operators to enter the recreational market by year-end. A three-year waiting period that was placed on the state’s 10 vertically integrated medical cannabis providers was essentially eliminated by this plan.

The primary purpose of the waiting time was to provide social-equity shops and smaller suppliers with a first-to-market advantage. However, when unlicensed cannabis businesses proliferated, particularly in New York City, the waiting period was altered.

Despite efforts to expand retail channels and hasten business operations, delays persisted in approving hundreds of CAURD licensees and applicants due to legal challenges over social equity provisions and licensing process.

In another development, the Office of Marijuana Management dealt a setback to the state’s small group of craft cultivators by announcing the discontinuation of the Marijuana Growers Showcase program by year-end. This decision, contrary to the preferences of smaller growers, marks a change in strategy for the showcases, which were initially designed to assist cultivators in selling excess inventory from the previous year.

According to the state, the showcase program has generated more than $4 million in sales this year. While adult-use cannabis retailers in New York have amassed more than $110 million in sales in the current year, this falls significantly short of the billion-dollar projections made prior to the launch of adult-use sales. The Office of Cannabis Management revealed that as of last week, 31 recreational marijuana stores are open statewide.

The growth and consolidation of the recreational cannabis market in New York State could give ancillary entities such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) opportunities to expand their reach and serve clients in that jurisdiction.

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420 with CNW — Marijuana Stakeholders Discuss Legalization Prospects During National Academies Conference

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) recently hosted a two-day session with marijuana stakeholders, regulators, advocates, and legalization opponents to share thoughts on the country’s cannabis legalization landscape. It was NASEM’s second iteration of the Public Health Consequences of Changes in the Cannabis Policy Landscape’ series, following the first conference in September.

The first conference featured representatives from federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The event created an opportunity for officials from these organizations to share their respective agencies’ perspectives on critical marijuana-related research.

Last week’s conference attracted many participants who had been deeply involved with cannabis regulation at various government levels, including marijuana regulators from California, Maryland, Hawaii, Oklahoma and Missouri. The regulators discussed their experiences with cannabis regulation and the successes and failures they experienced while trying to regulate the swiftly evolving state-legal cannabis industry.

Nicole Elliot, director of California’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), noted that California’s cannabis market had become quite robust with “a lot of complexities” since it legalized recreational cannabis six years ago. She said the California market has begun to experience a little stability and consolidation but added that competition in the market is becoming increasingly fierce.

Furthermore, Elliot said the illicit cannabis market has been a persistent thorn in the side of the state legal market and posited that this may be due to the fact that California has a history of producing more cannabis than most states in the country. She also noted that patchwork local rules have created plenty of regulatory loopholes that allow black-market sellers to continue their operations.

Amy Moore, Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) director of cannabis regulation, said that while her state is still new to the cannabis industry, its cannabis segment is “pretty active” and recently hit the $1 billion sales milestone. According to Moore, the state’s medical and recreational cannabis rules both have a major focus on public health.

Conversely, Hawaii Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation supervisor Michele Nakata concedes that her state was slow to adopt a medical-cannabis dispensary system, thanks to much more restrictive cannabis policies compared to other states in the country. While this undoubtedly limited the industry’s growth, it made cannabis regulators’ jobs “a lot easier,” even when resources were limited. She said Hawaii cannabis regulators are now preparing for the possibility of recreational-cannabis legalization.

These interactions between the different groups of regulators, opponents and proponents as well as other cannabis industry stakeholders could be helpful in shaping the future plans of many companies such as Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR), since the insights shared project what could be possible in the coming years.

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420 with CNW — Study Finds Cannabis Gives Anxiety Sufferers Better Sleep Compared to Alcohol

A recent study supported by federal funding has uncovered insights into the sleep patterns of individuals dealing with anxiety, revealing that the use of marijuana appears to be linked to improved sleep quality. The research, published in the “Drug and Alcohol Review” journal and conducted collaboratively by teams from the University of Haifa, Colorado State University and the University of Colorado, sought to explore the subjective sleep experiences of 347 individuals utilizing cannabis to manage anxiety.

Over a span of 30 days, participants were engaged in daily surveys where they documented their substance use and recounted their previous night’s sleep experience. The study compared outcomes on days with no substance use, marijuana-only use, alcohol-only use and co-use of both substances.

The findings indicated a notable difference in reported sleep quality, with participants reporting better sleep on marijuana-only days and co-use days in contrast to nonuse days. Intriguingly, alcohol-only use did not exhibit a similar positive association with sleep quality. The study also revealed a correlation between the frequency of alcohol and cannabis use and sleep patterns. Individuals with higher usage frequencies reported enhanced sleep quality on days when marijuana was the sole substance used compared to those who used alcohol and cannabis less frequently.

This correlation challenges the idea that tolerance may diminish the sleep-inducing effects of cannabis, as the study suggests an opposite trend of improved sleep quality with more frequent marijuana use. In addition, contrary to the common belief that alcohol aids in sleep, the research corroborated previous findings that alcohol does not contribute significantly to overall sleep quality, especially when juxtaposed with cannabis.

The study posited that understanding various cannabis combinations and ratios remains limited, emphasizing the need for further research, especially in clinical trials. The inclusion of diverse cannabis types, varying in dosage and product selection, prompted the researchers to acknowledge existing gaps in knowledge, advocating for future trials to address these uncertainties.

The study concluded by emphasizing the urgency of experimental investigations into the effects of cannabis and alcohol on sleep. It underscored the potential positive impact of cannabis on subjective sleep quality for individuals dealing with anxiety. Additionally, it highlighted the need for further exploration into the interplay between the frequency of substance use and its immediate influence on sleep, especially in populations seeking cannabis as a coping mechanism for anxiety, where alcohol and cannabis misuse may be prevalent.

As the health benefits of cannabis gain more attention from the scientific community, demand could grow much faster, which could in turn boost the demand for ancillary services such as those offered by Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR).

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