Ohio is now accepting petitions to add new qualifying conditions to the state’s medical cannabis program, according to a local WDTN report.

The State Medical Board of Ohio will accept petitions for the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program through Dec. 31, the news outlet reported, and may then designate new conditions or diseases as eligible to be treated with medical cannabis.

Petitions will not be considered if they are received after the deadline, or if they seek to add a broad category of conditions or diseases, according to WDTN.

Those petitioning for a condition that was previously considered and rejected by the board may not resubmit documents that have already been reviewed, the news outlet reported, but may present new scientific research for consideration.

Ohio’s current list of qualifying conditions include AIDS; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); Alzheimer’s disease; cachexia; cancer; chronic traumatic encephalopathy; Crohn’s disease; epilepsy or other seizure disorder; fibromyalgia; glaucoma; hepatitis C; inflammatory bowel disease; multiple sclerosis (MS); chronic, severe or intractable pain; Parkinson’s disease; HIV; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); sickle cell anemia; spinal cord disease or injury; Tourette syndrome; traumatic brain injury and ulcerative colitis.

This week, Detroit officials proposed an ordinance to allow adult-use cannabis sales in the city, after initially opting out of the state’s recreational market. Elsewhere, cannabis legalization polls show promising results ahead of Election Day, when four states—Arizona, New Jersey, Montana and South Dakota—are set to vote on adult-use ballot measures.

Here, we’ve rounded up the 10 headlines you need to know before this week is over.

• Federal: Fifteen percent of seniors report having used cannabis products within the past three years, primarily for therapeutic purposes, according to data published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society. Investigators affiliated with the University of California at San Diego surveyed 568 respondents at a geriatric clinic in southern California. All of the study’s participants were at least 65 years of age, and 73% of respondents were older than 75. Read more
• Polling numbers vary, but the most recent results indicate that voters in the four states with recreational legalization on the ballot—Arizona, New Jersey, Montana and South Dakota—will vote in favor of legalization. A shift in public perception and potential tax revenue are two key reasons the measures are likely to succeed, according to Fox Rothschild attorney Melissa T. Sanders. Read more
• A recent study by the Resource Innovation Institute (RII) found that indoor cannabis cultivation facilities that utilize LED lighting systems were, on average, more energy-efficient and more productive than facilities using non-LED lights. The non-profit organization analyzed data from 84 indoor cultivators who submitted energy use and production data to the group’s Cannabis PowerScore tool, a benchmarking platform that gathers confidential facility information about energy use, production output and cultivation methods, and provides operators with ranking relative to other respondents. Read more
• Michigan: Detroit Councilman James Tate and Mayor Mike Duggan shared details of a proposed ordinance this week that would allow adult-use cannabis sales in the city. Detroit initially opted out of Michigan’s adult-use cannabis market, instead placing a moratorium on sales to buy the city time to draft an ordinance to regulate the industry. Now, city officials plan to propose their ordinance as an amendment to the Detroit City Code, which will be considered at upcoming public hearings led by the city council. Read more
• New Jersey: The New Jersey Assembly Appropriations Committee approved legislation Oct. 26 that would require workers’ compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance benefits to cover medical cannabis in certain situations. A1708 was approved by the Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions earlier this year, and advanced out of the Appropriations Committee Monday in a 7-4 vote. Read more
• Missouri: Lyndall Fraker, the director of Missouri’s medical cannabis program, believes voters could legalize adult-use cannabis in the state as early as 2022. Fraker told FOX 2 Now that he believes medical cannabis legalization was a step toward adult-use in the state. “Absolutely, I think that was the intent of the drafters,” he said. “We’ve already heard that they are going to try and work and get it on the ballot, but I don’t think the legislature will do it; I think it will have to be a petition. It’s going to be on the ballot in 2022, I’m very confident in that, but I don’t know what that language will look like.” Read more
• Mississippi: Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler is challenging one of Mississippi’s two medical cannabis ballot measures with the state supreme court. Butler filed the complaint Oct. 27, just one week before Election Day, alleging that the number of signatures gathered to put the issue before voters does not meet standards set in the state’s constitution. Read more
• Illinois: Curaleaf announced this week that the multi-state operator is expanding its line of Select Oil brand products to Illinois, the 15th state to carry Select Oil products. Select Elite Live cannabis oil cartridges will be the first offered in the state. Read more
• A judge has ordered Illinois officials not to rescore cannabis dispensary applications in an ongoing licensing dispute over the state’s plan to issue 75 new retail licenses. The move comes after three finalists included in the licensing lottery filed a lawsuit over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to offer unsuccessful retail applicants a second chance to qualify for the controversial lottery. Read more
• International: Although full election results are expected to be published Nov. 6, preliminary election results show that New Zealand is set to reject adult-use cannabis legalization. The country’s Electoral Commission has reported that 53.1% of voters opposed the cannabis referendum, but also said there are nearly half a million mostly overseas special votes that have not yet been counted and that might be enough to get legalization across the finish line. Read more

Canóvanas, Puerto Rico - PRESS RELEASE - After months of planning, Tropizen announced the start of the production of Puerto Rico’s first cannabis-infused fruit chewables, as part of its ongoing partnership with U.S. multi-state cannabis and hemp operator MariMed. The company will also manufacture new cannabis-infused chewable tablets.

“We have seen Puerto Rico’s medical cannabis market evolve and grow exponentially. Patients are looking for higher quality and natural options made with real ingredients,” said Tropizen co-founder Marni Meistrell. “We believe that these new products are a great fit, both with changing patient preferences and Tropizen’s corporate philosophy. As our partnership with MariMed advances, we are pleased to be able to continue to offer innovative, world-class products.”

RELATED: Tropizen Finds Success in Puerto Rico’s Cannabis Market

The company's expanded product portfolio will now include Betty's Eddies taffy style infused fruit chews and Kalm Fusion chewable tablets. Both will be available through authorized dispensaries in Puerto Rico.

Meistrell explained that the vegan, gluten-free fruit chews are manufactured using traditional taffy machines and made using real fruits and vegetables. Containing full-spectrum cannabis oil, they will be available in a variety of flavors, including berry, orange, lemon, lime, grape, peach mango, and an insomnia formula with lemon and melatonin. The product has been recognized in the United States as one of the top-performing cannabis brands.

Kalm Fusion products include THC and CBD formulas. The products are micro-dosed at 5 mg each, allowing patients the flexibility to conveniently and dependably choose their desired dosage levels. The tablets contain no artificial flavors or colors and are produced in a variety of flavors including black cherry, orange cream, fruit punch, pineapple and mint.

Since Tropizen’s partnership with MariMed was formalized late last year, both companies have worked together to introduce some of their products in each other's markets. MariMed currently infuses, packages and distributes Tropizen’s popular Pique hot sauce in the state of Massachusetts, with plans to expand in the coming months to Nevada, Delaware, Illinois, Rhode Island, Maine and Maryland.

"We are delighted to be expanding our relationship with Tropizen in Puerto Rico with our premier Betty’s Eddies and Kalm Fusion brands. We have been successfully manufacturing and distributing Tropizen’s infused 'Hot Sauce' in Massachusetts and plan to expand our partnership with Tropizen in other legal Caribbean and mainland state markets,” said Ryan Crandall, Chief Product Officer and SVP of Sales at MariMed, Inc.

Despite the pandemic having battered other economic sectors, medical cannabis sales have continued to grow in Puerto Rico as patients have increased the frequency and volume of purchases, said Meistrell. Presently, authorized dispensaries total 128 while cannabis retail sales are estimated to have exceeded $128 million in 2019. “The industry continues to face challenges going forward, such as the urgent need for banking services,” she added. Tropizen is expected to end the year with close to 50 employees, almost double the payroll at the beginning of the year.

“As our partnership with MariMed advances, we are pleased to be able to continue to offer patients innovative, world-class and natural options for their health needs,” said Meistrell.

Preliminary election results show that New Zealand is set to reject adult-use cannabis legalization, according to U.S. News & World Report.

RELATED: Young Voters Key for New Zealand’s Cannabis Legalization Referendum, According to New Poll

The country’s Electoral Commission has reported that 53.1% of voters opposed the cannabis referendum, according to the news outlet, but also said there are nearly half a million mostly overseas special votes that have not yet been counted and that might be enough to get legalization across the finish line.

Full results are expected to be published Nov. 6, according to U.S. News & World Report.

If successful, the referendum would make New Zealand the third country to legalize the adult use and sale of cannabis, following Canada and Uruguay.