A trial to gauge whether Victorians prescribed medicinal cannabis can drive safely is about to kick off.As in most Australian states, it is illegal in Victoria to drive with any detectable amount of THC; an intoxicating cannabinoid that is present in many cannabis medicines. Traces of THC can be...

Analysis conducted by the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) has found the number of pediatric patients visiting Virginia hospital emergency departments for cannabis-related issues has decreased, coinciding with stricter controls on hemp-derived THC.Like other states, Virginia had been grappling with the proliferation of products containing intoxicating hemp-derived THC...

German researchers have found the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may not only increase survival time, but increase quality of life in palliative care cancer patients.THC is the intoxicating cannabinoid associated with the high marijuana users experience. But it's also being used as a therapeutic agent to help manage various conditions,...

Purdue University researchers are developing biodegradable super-absorbent materials using hemp cellulose - and appear to be on a winner.Super-absorbent materials are typically made from synthetic polymers; mainly polyacrylate-based compounds. For example, sodium polyacrylate materials are used in disposable diapers due to their high absorbency per unit mass. The problems...

75 illegal smoke and cannabis shops were shuttered in New York City during the first week of "Operation Padlock to Protect", with many more to come.New York has fairly accommodating cannabis laws. Registered patients can buy medical cannabis from dispensing facilities operated by registered organizations across New York State,...

The Alabama Cannabis Coalition has expressed its "extreme disappointment" in ongoing issues with medical cannabis licensing in the state.Medical cannabis became legal in Alabama after Governor Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 46 in 2021, which also set up the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC). After developing regulations in 2022,...

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is backing a private members bill it says will address some of the challenges for farmers in the state wanting to grow hemp.Industrial hemp has been permitted to be grown in Victoria since 1998, but there are plenty of hurdles farmers must clear to...

Washington State University-led research has found the intoxicating cannabinoid THC shows up in the breast milk of mothers using cannabis.With so many US states making marijuana and/or medical cannabis legal, it's becoming increasingly important to know about potential issues - such as the impact on breastfeeding.“Breastfeeding parents need to...

Portage-based Wisconsin Battery Co. (WinBat) has just had a big injection of funds to help move it closer to its hemp battery goals.In a collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and focused on developing groundbreaking battery technologies, among WinBat's activities is creating hemp carbon batteries for automotive, tools and...

Could hemp seed be another useful tool for managing high blood pressure? This study indicates it could be.There's a lot to like about hemp seed as a food. High in protein, vitamins and minerals, fibre and beneficial fatty acids - but low in bad fats - hemp seed is...