Welcome back!

Last week, we noted how New York (state) is all set to legalize recreational cannabis. This week, London wants in on the act with a somewhat less dramatic announcement: Mayor Sadiq Khan will explore the benefits of legalization with an independent commission, according to a sneak preview of his re-election manifesto (more below). Completing the old-fashioned triumvirate, news from Paris heralds a two-year “experiment” into medical cannabis, with a view to eventual legalization (see "Worth Your Time..." below).

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Until next week, 

Rich Whitworth, Content Director

London Calling

Evidently riding a wave of increasing public support for cannabis, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has pledged to dig into decriminalization of the class-B drug, according to the UK’s Guardian newspaper. Should Khan be re-elected in May, he will set up an independent London drugs commission to explore the health, economic, and criminal justice ramifications of cannabis legalization. Khan believes that a mayoral endorsement along with positive results from such a commission would provide “a boost” to the decriminalization camp. Notably, Khan does not actually hold the power to introduce new laws.

Academic Excellence

Building on its existing academic cannabis programs, “New Jersey’s Green University” recently announced the “Cannabis & Hemp Research Initiative at Stockton University.” Rather wonderfully shortened to CHRIS, the initiative will provide education, research, and resources for the local and national market – the latter initially in the form of testing services to hemp growers, processors, and finished product manufacturers. “Hemp was an important part of America’s past and we’d like to make it an important part of America’s future,” said Robert Mejia, an adjunct professor of Cannabis Studies at Stockton in a university press release. “We used to know how to grow and process hemp, but because of cannabis prohibition, we have to learn all over again. As we learn, we will be sharing these valuable lessons with our community and the nation.” 

Meanwhile in Michigan... Having launched the first cannabis chemistry program in the US in 2019, Lake Superior State University is proudly announcing the first cannabis chemistry scholarship – powered by Steadfast Labs. “This donation not only continues our trendsetting ways in this vital new field but also makes our already affordable tuition even more reasonable,” said Steven Johnson, Dean of the College of Science and the Environment at LSSU.

Testing + Processing 

Researchers use advanced analytical techniques to determine 14 endocannabinoids and congeners in human plasma in bid to better understand our “complex cell-signaling system.” Link

ACS Laboratories announces “Potency 12 Test” for more accurate determination of Delta-8 THC and Delta-10 THC (alongside Delta-9 THC, THCA, THCV, CBD, CBDA, CBDV, CBG, CBGA, CBC, and CBN). Link

Plant Science + Genetics

Australian team publishes proteomics research that begins to unravel highly complex inner workings of Cannabis sativa glandular trichomes; floral tissue appears to supply trichomes with carbon and energy (glucose) to drive secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Link

THC-free strains? Neon Bloom and Oglesby Plants International form partnership to focus on developing THC/CBC-free Cannabis for medical and consumer markets. Link

Research + Medicine

French government launches two-year study of 3000 patients to gather safety and efficacy data on therapeutic cannabis; focus is on patients with cancer, untreatable nerve pain, and certain forms of epilepsy as well as people in palliative care. Link

Analyses of data from three longitudinal studies finds little evidence for link between adolescent cannabis use and adult mental health/cognitive ability; however, use does appear to impair academic functioning (with downstream effects on socioeconomic status). Link

Business + Regulation

China’s National Institutes for Food and Drug Control seeks public opinions on proposal to ban Cannabis sativa-derived products from cosmetics. Link 1 + 2

Forbes writer gets “High For Science” as part of Nextleaf’s adventures in human trials… “My expectations of anything labeled ‘rapid’ are generally always low, but after sampling a few beverages totalling about 10 milligrams of THC, it took just nine minutes to feel a buzz coming on.”