Study Shows A Link Between EVALI Cases and Adult-Use Dispensary Access
“One possible inference from our results is that the presence of legal markets for marijuana has helped mitigate or may be protective against EVALI.”
^ In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Coady Wing, Ph.D., Ashley C. Bradford, MA, Aaron E. Carroll, M.D., MS, and Alex Hollingsworth, Ph.D., from Indiana University found that the number of e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI) cases was lower in states with legal adult-use cannabis dispensaries. “This association was not driven by state-level differences in e-cigarette use, and EVALI case rates were not associated with state-level prevalence of e-cigarette use,” researchers said. Source: JAMA
Democratic Senators Call for SBA Loan Access for Cannabis Industry
“We … ask the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government to include language in your forthcoming legislation to help extend SBA loan programs to legal cannabis businesses.”
^ Democratic Sens. Rosen, Wyden, Duckworth, Bennet, Gillibrand, Sanders, Markey, Booker, Menendez, Merkley and Harris signed a letter asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to include language in the Financial Services and General Government and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill (fiscal year 2021 ) prohibiting the Small Business Administration from denying loan applications to cannabis operations in state-legal markets. Source: U.S. Senate
COVID-19 Throws A Wrench in THE Cannabis Reform Movement
“People are scared. They don’t want to touch a pen or paper.”
^ Melissa Fults, executive director of Arkansans for Cannabis Reform, is one of many cannabis advocates who are seeing legalization efforts hit roadblocks amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, as social distancing measures put ballot drives on hold and lawmakers grapple with the crisis. Source: Politico
