The U.S. Congress is poised to vote on a bill that could have a massive impact on Wisconsin's thriving hemp and THC industry. Across the state, the hemp industry has flourished thanks to a federal loophole that allows the sale of low-dose THC products, even in states where marijuana remains illegal. Industry leaders say they welcome more regulation, but a full ban would be devastating.

In the aftermath of the 2024 election, Nebraska voters have made their voices heard through a series of ballot initiatives. However, state leaders have met these initiatives with fierce resistance, raising concerns about the erosion of the democratic process. The medical cannabis issue, in particular, has been mired in legal battles, with the state spending over $66,000 to fight the measure in court.

These findings suggest that cannabis use may be a risk factor for the development of inflammatory eye diseases. Healthcare providers should be aware of this potential association and consider it when evaluating and managing patients with ocular inflammatory conditions. The findings also suggest that long-term cannabis use may have detrimental effects on ocular health, highlighting the importance of considering the potential consequences of persistent cannabis use, particularly as it becomes more widely legalized.

#CannabisBoomer #CannabisScience #HempIndustry #WisconsinCannabis #NebraskaVoters #OcularHealth #CannabisUse #EyeTracking

Grace[0:0:0]​

On today's Cannabis Boomer's Journal of News and Reviews in Cannabis Science, Dr. Alex Terrazas PhD gives his take on the latest findings in cannabis research.

But first. here is The Cannabis Boomer's top cannabis news story.

Alex Terrazas, PhD: The Cannabis Boomer[0:0:19]

Shutdown Bill Threatens Wisconsin's Booming Hemp and THC Industry

The U.S. Congress is poised to vote on a bill that could have a massive impact on Wisconsin's thriving hemp and THC industry. Tucked into the legislation to reopen the federal government is a provision that would ban the "unregulated sale of intoxicating hemp-based or hemp-derived products."

This move has left business owners like Dillon Beyer, co-owner of Tree Huggers Cannabis, "freaking out a little bit." Beyer's company employs 25 people and sells a variety of THC-infused drinks and products - all of which would become noncompliant if the bill passes. Across the state, the hemp industry has flourished thanks to a federal loophole that allows the sale of low-dose THC products, even in states where marijuana remains illegal.

Industry leaders say they welcome more regulation, but a full ban would be devastating. Alla Tsypin of RA! Wellness, a THC beverage company, argues "to take it away as a whole as an option for millions of people is pretty crappy." With a one-year compliance window, businesses are now scrambling to find a way forward, while also hoping this sudden threat will spark a broader conversation about the future of hemp and THC products in Wisconsin.

Alex Terrazas, PhD: The Cannabis Boomer[0:1:47]

Ballot Initiatives Face Uphill Battle in Nebraska

Senator Danielle Conrad laments the "radical executive branch" that is "leading the charge in the courts, in the legislature, in the court of public opinion to fight back against and to thwart the will of Nebraska voters." This sentiment is echoed by many, as initiatives like paid sick leave and minimum wage increases have been targeted by lawmakers. The medical cannabis issue, in particular, has been mired in legal battles, with the state spending over $66,000 to fight the measure in court.

As the state grapples with these challenges, the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska has taken matters into its own hands, moving to legalize recreational marijuana on tribal land. This has sparked tensions with state leaders, who have threatened to deploy troopers to the reservation. With the medical cannabis commission facing delays and the ballot initiative process under scrutiny, the future of these citizen-led efforts remains uncertain in the Cornhusker State.Grace[0:3:24]And now the Cannabis Boomer reviews recent cannabis science publications.

Alex Terrazas, PhD: The Cannabis Boomer[0:3:30]

On today's science article briefs, I am covering the important topic of cannabis and eye health.

Association between cannabis use and ocular inflammatory disease: a large-scale cohort study. by Lishinsky and others in Journal of ophthalmic inflammation and infection

This study investigated the association between cannabis use and the risk of developing inflammatory eye conditions.

The key findings indicate that cannabis users had a significantly higher risk of developing inflammatory eye diseases compared to non-users. The risk was particularly elevated among heavy cannabis users and those with a longer duration of use.

The study utilized a large-scale cohort design, analyzing data from a national healthcare database to compare the incidence of ocular inflammatory conditions between cannabis users and non-users over an extended period.

These findings suggest that cannabis use may be a risk factor for the development of inflammatory eye diseases. Healthcare providers should be aware of this potential association and consider it when evaluating and managing patients with ocular inflammatory conditions.

The study's limitations include the reliance on administrative data, which may not capture all relevant clinical details, and the inability to determine the specific components of cannabis (for example, CBD and THC) responsible for the observed associations.

Alex Terrazas, PhD: The Cannabis Boomer[0:5:10]

I found this journal paper particularly interesting.

Persistent Cannabis Use and Ocular Health in Midlife. by Cheyne and others in American journal of preventive medicine

This study examined the association between persistent cannabis use across adulthood and measures of ocular health in midlife.

The key findings indicate that persistent cannabis use was associated with poorer ocular health outcomes, including increased intraocular pressure, reduced visual acuity, and a higher risk of glaucoma. Of course, people have claimed for a long time that cannabis helps with glaucoma.

The study utilized a longitudinal design, with participants providing data on their cannabis use and undergoing comprehensive eye examinations at midlife. Regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between cannabis use and ocular health measures.

The findings suggest that long-term cannabis use may have detrimental effects on ocular health, highlighting the importance of considering the potential consequences of persistent cannabis use, particularly as it becomes more widely legalized. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore potential interventions to mitigate the ocular health risks associated with long-term cannabis use.

As with so many cannabis health studies, this study's limitations include the reliance on self-reported cannabis use and the potential for residual confounding factors that were not fully accounted for in the analyses.

Alex Terrazas, PhD: The Cannabis Boomer[0:6:53]

And finally, we have:

Effects of recent cannabis consumption on eye-tracking. by Haider and others in Frontiers in neuroscience

This study aimed to identify eye-tracking metrics that are affected by recent cannabis consumption but not confounded by cannabis use history or demographic variables.

The key findings indicate that recent cannabis consumption can immediately impact ocular and oculomotor function, and the researchers were able to identify specific eye-tracking measures that are affected by recent cannabis use but not by long-term cannabis consumption or demographic factors.

The study employed a combination of eye-tracking and pupil measurements to evaluate the effects of recent cannabis consumption in a sample of participants with varying levels of cannabis use history.

The findings have important clinical implications, as they suggest that certain eye-tracking and pupil measuresurements could be used as objective biomarkers to detect recent cannabis consumption, which could be valuable in various settings, such as impaired driving assessments or workplace drug testing.

The study's main methodological limitation is the relatively small sample size, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Future research with larger and more diverse samples would be necessary to further validate the identified eye-tracking and pupil measurements as reliable indicators of recent cannabis consumption.

Michael[0:8:29]​

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