News

Car fatalities

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Much has been written recently about the “connection” between cannabis legalization and fatal car crashes. But a new study has concluded that “there is no statistically [significant] relationship between marijuana legalization and fatal crashes” and that the “concerns of policy makers and the public that legalizing marijuana will worsen road safety are not entirely founded.”

In Colorado, the study’s author noted that the fatal car accident rate was considerably higher  compared to Georgia and Iowa in 2001, but that trend started happening prior to medical cannabis legalization and also leveled out by 2003.

Inside the Beltway . . . 

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The National Institute on Drug Abuse released a job posting seeking a contractor to roll marijuana joints “within a range of varying concentrations of delta-9-THC and analyze strength and stability of them.”

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The Food and Drug Administration has scheduled a public hearing on CBD regulations for May 31.

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Critical Research

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Medical Use

Colorado State University’s Institute of Cannabis Research will launch a national, medical cannabis patient data registry. Estimates suggest that more than 1 million U.S. citizens legally consume cannabis to relieve symptoms from such diseases as multiple sclerosis, HIV, cancer or epilepsy, according to the university.

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Opioid 

An academic analysis from The City University of New York indicates that “the 2012 legalization policy in Colorado appears to reduce the number of deaths due to opioid overdoses.”

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Driving 

The Colorado School of Public Health is searching for volunteers for a study on how cannabis affects the operation of motor vehicles.

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LEADership

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Using nearly a million dollars from a state grant, the University of Colorado is studying how cannabis use affects drivers.

“Right now law enforcement doesn’t have a lot of objective tools looking at objective measures or biological measures that they can use at roadside,” researcher Ashley Brooks-Russell told 9news. “What’s commonly used or kind of the first line of defense is the standard field sobriety test. That’s not really well-suited for cannabis, so we’re looking to see if these tools might provide some better tools for law enforcement to use roadside.”

9News Story »

Headlines

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O Canada

Native Roots among Colorado companies expanding to Canada. 

Denver Channel Story »
CBS Local Story »

Senior moments

Study looks at habits of older cannabis consumers.

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Marijuana Champ

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner was named one of the top five best in the senate on the issue of marijuana policy by Forbes.  See who the other four are here.

Forbes Article »

Canada, cannabis and tourism

All eyes have been on Canada the past few weeks as it becomes the second and largest country to  legalize cannabis. That will have huge implications for its economy, including tourism. CBC Radio talked with Colorado’s Sean Roby about the tourism potential and the how cannabis-friendly bed and breakfasts can compete with Airbnb. Roby is the founder and CEO of Bud and Breakfast, a Colorado-based company that provides lodging and curated travel experiences for pot-loving tourists in Canada the United States and around the world.

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Pueblo’s national cannabis rep 

Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace has joined the board of the board of the national Marijuana Policy Project’s board of directors.

Westword Article »

Social clubs

City councilor expects little change to onerous rules. 

Westword Article »

Change brings more change 

The industry’s watchdog, the state Marijuana Enforcement Division, updates its rules and regulations every year in hopes of catching up with the expanding field.  See what four rules are about to change. 

Westword Article »

From the baseline …

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The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice released a baseline report on the impacts of marijuana legalization Friday. Colorado Leads is working on a summary so you don’t have to read the entire 266-page report. But if you want to, you can find it here.

“We now have that ever-critical baseline from which we can spot trends so Colorado’s leaders understand where our efforts are succeeding and identify areas where we need to focus additional research, resources or even new policy,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper.

More on this…

Colorado’s anticipated marijuana report details youth usage, driving and crime over the last 5 years

Headlines

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Too many rules?

Denver’s program to permit cannabis social clubs is struggling.

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Otherwise, Denver’s marijuana businesses flourishing

New report says city’s effective regulation has created jobs and generated tax revenue.

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Jefferson County gets grant to steer kids away from cannabis

School district uses grant to hire three new school nurses and six social and emotional learning specialists.

KDVR Story »

Cannabis-related nonprofit incubator coming to Denver

Founders say Nuvolution aims to help fund education and research efforts.

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Headlines

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The Denver Post guts Cannabist.com

Founding editor Ricardo Baca attempts to buy back groundbreaking site »

Bill would protect cannabis research

A bipartisan measure filed in Congress would protect grants to academic and medical institutions that conduct cannabis research »

Headlines

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Science backing cannabis benefits continues to grow

The latest comes from the esteemed Journal of the American Medical Association, Internal Medicine, which published a pair of new studies showing legal cannabis access reduces opioid abuse.

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Pot over pop?

The cannabis industry is already four times bigger than tobacco, closing in on wheat and expected to soon surpass soda sales.

Bloomberg Article »

WSJ Article »

Filling the pot holes

With road construction season on the horizon, Denver says cannabis revenue will enable the city to repave an extra 50 blocks.

Read the Cannabist Article »

Two new towns legalize recreational cannabis

Voters in Naturita and Berthoud have approved the sale of recreational marijuana.

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Craft brewer adds a cannabis twist

The brew master behind Blue Moon craft beer substitutes THC for alcohol in new brew.

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CDPHE Head Sits Down with Colorado Leads 

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Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director and chief medical officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, told a crowded room of Colorado Leads members that the state “has a pragmatic, objective and evidence-based approach to marijuana legalization.”

Wolk discussed a wide-range of issues surrounding the legal cannabis industry and dispelled a number of myths perpetuated by legalization opponents.

“Access doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in use,” he said.  “There is a very low rate of marijuana-related ER and hospital visits (in Colorado).  We shouldn’t make more out of it.”