Michigan Cannabis Industry Association

Greenhouse gas emissions from the legal marijuana industry have climbed so quickly in recent years that they now equal that of about 10 million cars, according to a newly published study into the energy and emissions of cannabis production. A switch from indoor to outdoor grows, however, could lessen that environmental impact by lowering emissions as much as 76 percent. Additional policy shifts that could reduce emissions include increased home growing of cannabis, wider use of greenhouses by cultivators, use of more energy efficient varieties of the plant, implementation of on-site solar and other updates. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gkyWxAXU

A new study shows that 40 percent of military veterans suffering from chronic pain report using marijuana to treat their symptoms. Most of them say they use cannabis to deal with pain, mobility and sleep issues, while substantial numbers of veterans also say it helps with PTSD, anxiety and stress. Nearly all participants (98 percent) said healthcare providers should discuss the use of natural products with their patients. The report, published in the journal Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, says the survey “revealed prevalent use of multiple natural products concurrently, and in some cases, as substitutes for prescribed medications.” Cannabis—including both CBD- and THC-dominant varieties—was the third most common natural product in the survey after vitamin D and multivitamins, the study found. Read more: https://lnkd.in/epX62xMj

A new presentation reviewing research on student athletes’ use of cannabis finds that marijuana “has demonstrated positive findings as an alternative for pain management among NCAA athletes.” “Evidence indicates that marijuana use among athletes can improve oxygenation of tissues, reduce muscle spasm, and enhance pain management,” the new research paper says. “For patients with fibromyalgia, marijuana use displayed benefits in alleviating symptoms such as pain and stiffness, while enhancing relaxation and sleep.” The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) last year removed marijuana from its list of substances banned for Division I athletes, emphasizing that cannabis is not a performance enhancing drug and that it should be treated the same way as alcohol. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ej6bhbJf

The expansion of adult-use marijuana sales to 21 states has ushered in a new era of commercialism in the U.S. cannabis industry. According to Marijuana Policy Project data, the total number of medical marijuana patients on average decreases by roughly a third after a market launches recreational sales, a shift that might impact business strategy, product availability, marketing and customer relationships. In Michigan, the MMJ patient count fell to 79,022 in December, down 71% since the state launched adult-use sales in December 2019. The percentage drop is the second steepest, behind only Oregon, whose registry has plummeted 81% since recreational sales began in October 2015. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dhYT75tB

Being part of the cannabis industry means more than just growing—it means advocating, educating, and driving progress. ????? Yesterday, our team joined the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association at the Michigan State Capitol for Lobby Day, standing alongside industry leaders to help shape the future of cannabis in Michigan. We’re honored to have a voice in these important conversations and grateful to MiCIA for organizing such a meaningful event.

A majority of Americans believe regular alcohol consumption is more harmful than regular marijuana use, according to a new poll. Even so, more adults say they personally prefer drinking alcohol to consuming cannabis despite the health risks. Asked which substance they feel is “more harmful to a person’s health,” 58 percent of respondents said alcohol is more dangerous than cannabis, compared to 19 percent who said the opposite is true. Another 10 percent said neither is more harmful than the other, and 13 percent said they weren’t sure. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e86QWE8H

Huge thank you to our members for making the trip to Lansing today to participate in our Lobby Day! We can’t wait to host everyone again soon!

Two out of three marijuana consumers say they’ve had to make the decision to spend less money on cannabis because of broader inflation in the economy, according to a new poll by NuggMD. Asked about their recent spending on marijuana products, about 66 percent of consumers said they’re spending less as the country continues to grapple with higher costs. Thirty-four percent of respondents said inflation isn’t affecting their cannabis spending. It’s not clear if the belt-tightening is related to possible increases in the price of marijuana products themselves, general economic duress or some combination of the two. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g-8KebVt

A new study of medical marijuana patients in Minnesota finds that people with cancer who used cannabis “report significant improvements in cancer-related symptoms.” Nevertheless, it notes that the high cost of marijuana can be burdensome to less financially stable patients and raise “questions about affordability of and access to this therapy.” In addition to asking questions about patients’ cancer histories, cannabis use and symptom changes, the survey also included sociodemographic questions. Patients who were not living comfortably under their current income also tended to be enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis program for longer, make marijuana purchases more frequently and use more high-THC products versus their more financially comfortable counterparts. Read more: https://lnkd.in/emY36cGp

California officials have unveiled a new report on the current status and future of the state’s marijuana market—with independent analysts concluding that the federal prohibition on cannabis that prevents interstate commerce is meaningfully bolstering the illicit market. The California Cannabis Market Outlook 2024 report looked at consumer trends, industry data, regulatory enforcement actions and more, finding that just about 40 percent of consumers are buying from legal operators years into the implementation of legalization. But as the legal state markets continue to expand and mature, the report says federal laws preventing interstate commerce are significantly impacting the marketplace. “... as long as interstate trade remains federally illegal, licensed market participants are at a competitive disadvantage relative to illicit market participants who distribute across state borders,” the analysis said. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e2G2zdbT