Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney introduced legislation authorizing medical marijuana to treat opioid and heroin addiction. The bill (A4015) adds substance use disorder to the list of debilitating medical conditions that qualify a patient to use medical marijuana.

“The treatment community is excited by recent studies showing the effectiveness of medical marijuana in addiction treatment,” said Rooney (R-Bergen). “Research found that one compound in cannabis can reverse some of the brain changes associated with heroin use. Medical marijuana can break the physiological grasp of addiction.”

CBD is the key compound in marijuana for addiction treatment, which does not produce a high. Human trials suggest that doses of CBD effectively decrease cravings and anxiety among heroin-dependent people.

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Attempting to ease pressure on a still-fledgling local cannabis industry, a split Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved revised new tax rates trimming the crucial legal marijuana cultivation charge by two-thirds for most growers, with the potential for future increase in Monterey County.

After a lengthy discussion, the board finally approved by a 3-2 vote Supervisor Simon Salinas’ motion to adjust the cultivation rate to $5 per square foot for greenhouse grows and $8 per square foot for the less common indoor grows. The current rate approved by voters is $15 per square foot.

The rates would remain in place for two years, then be subject to annual increases based on the consumer price index. The board could revisit the rates at any time.

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Legislators concluded a two-day special session Monday afternoon without addressing legislation to direct the state treasurer to set up a banking system needed to transact payments under the state's medical marijuana law.

However, legislators were moving to take the rare step to petition themselves into special session.

As of Monday afternoon, Sen. Mike Romano, D-Harrison, revealed a petition with the needed 21 signatures of senators--the three-fifths majority of members required under the state Constitution to mandate the governor to convene a special session.

RELATED: West Virginia Legislature May Revisit Medical Marijuana

In the House of Delegates, Delegate Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, announced that he was 24 signatures short of the 60 needed to mandate a special session, but picked up several additional signatures on the House floor after the House adjourned.

Pushkin said he is hopeful the fact that the Senate has secured enough signatures to require a special session will put the onus on the holdouts in the House--or on Gov. Jim Justice--to agree to a special session.

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The Cannabis Control Commission on Tuesday wrapped up its review of priority applicants for recreational marijuana businesses.

The commission put registered medical dispensaries (RMDs) with operational and provisional certificates granted by the Department of Public Health, as well as so-called economic empowerment applicants, at the head of the line for the coveted industry licenses. In all, the commission received 320 applications for priority status.

Of those, 205 were approved and 115 were denied.

Those who were denied by the commission often missed the April 16 deadline, or failed to meet the requirements for consideration.

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