Cannabis-Related Pediatric ER Visits Decline 21.5% In Virginia, Louisiana Eliminates Recreational THC Products, Indiana Tables Marijuana Reform For Now, NJ Hemp News

Louisiana: Bill Killing Recreational THC Products Approved In House Committee 

Louisiana House committee passed a measure last week sponsored by Sen. Thomas Pressly (R) that would eliminate non-medicinal products containing THC. House’s Administration of Criminal Justice Committee passed Senate Bill 237 in a 7-5 vote moving it to the full House for consideration. 

“There are legitimate uses for hemp products — from biofuels to plastics, from fiber to food, and building materials. I have no objection to those products,” Pressly said as reported by Nola. “It is the intoxicating, synthetic, lab-created products with THC that my bill focuses on.” 

People from the industry complained, warning the measure would destroy their businesses and livelihoods while also encouraging people to buy from illegal sources. 

“Weed is often called a gateway drug. It's not because when you smoke weed you decide to go do cocaine or heroin,” said Joe Gerrity, CEO of New Orleans-based Crescent Canna. “It's because the drug dealer that you’re purchasing from offers those, as well.”

See Also: Louisiana Bill To Create Regulatory Framework For Legal Marijuana Advances Through Legislature

Virginia: Cannabis-Related Pediatric Visits To ERs Decline After THC Regulations 

Cannabis-related pediatric visits to emergency rooms in Virginia have declined after the state regulated THC and hemp-based products, according to the data from Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association and reported by Wtop News. 

Julian Walker, vice president of communications with Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, told the outlet that emergency rooms have seen a 21.5% decrease in cannabis-related pediatric cases since a law regulating THC products went into effect last July. 

"We also saw a reduction between 2022 and 2023, and a reduction between the first half of 2023 and the second half of 2023," Walker said. "So big picture, that's what the numbers show. That after several years of a trend of increasing pediatric emergency department visits for cannabis exposure, after this law took effect on July 1, 2023; in the six months after that, we saw the number of visits that we had been recording in hospital emergency departments, we saw them decline."

See Also: Virginia’s ‘Surveillance System’ To Track ‘Adverse Events’ Related To Cannabis Use

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Indiana: No Cannabis Reform Discussions This Summer 

Lawmakers in Indiana decided not to move on with marijuana reform in this interim session, considering the recent DEA's announcement on cannabis rescheduling. This summer, the lawmakers will consider various issues considering education, health care costs and tax reform, but not marijuana. 

"That doesn't surprise me," Keith Johnson, a veteran and the Communications Director for Indiana NORML, said, as reported by My Wabash Valley. "If they put a lot of time as a legislative body into this right now, and suddenly the DEA's recommendations or the FDA's input on it changes what needs to be done, then it was kind of wasted effort to talk about it, and plan and get things rolling on it now," Johnson said.

See Also: GOP Gubernatorial Candidate In Indiana Says Cannabis Legalization Is ‘Inevitable'

New Jersey: Senate Committee Passes Bill Requesting Cannabis Commission To Regulate ‘Intoxicating' Hemp Products 

The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee approved last week a measure demanding the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJRC) to regulate "intoxicating" hemp products, such as Delta-8 THC products. 

The legislation S 3235 defines "Intoxicating hemp product" as any product sold "that has a concentration of total THC greater than 0.5 milligrams per serving or 2.5 milligrams per 30 package."

State Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D) and Paul Moriarity (D) introduced the bill, under which, hemp products can only be sold in licensed dispensaries alongside cannabis products. It also limits "a total THC concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis and additionally, for a hemp product, not more than 0.5 milligrams of total THC per serving, and 2.5 milligrams of total THC per package."

The bill aims to impose low THC caps on hemp products, while also regulating undiscovered cannabinoids that might have psychoactive properties. 

"Total THC" means the total concentration of all 21 tetrahydrocannabinol in a cannabis item, including delta-8, delta-9, delta-10, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, and any other chemically similar compound, substance, derivative, or isomer of tetrahydrocannabinol, regardless of how derived or manufactured, and any other cannabinoid, other than cannabidiol… causing intoxication.

The bill adds "It is unlawful to sell or distribute a hemp product or cannabis item that is not derived from naturally occurring biologically active chemical constituents."

The legislation requires the NJCRC to collaborate with the Division of Consumer Affairs and the Business Action Center in the Department of State to develop and implement a public 10 education program for businesses on the bill.

Continue reading on Heady NJ. 

See Also: Where Is The Cannabis Market Booming? Here’s New Jersey’s $800M Success Story

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