The wild power of cannabis reform was on full display for the week of April 30 – May 4, 2018.

Nancy Pelosi suggests marijuana and yoga is a great substitute for opioids; elected officials in Maine reject Gov. LePage’s contempt for legalization; the Illinois Senate votes to legalize industrial hemp, and a new study indicates that cannabidiol (CBD) may provide an alternative approach to reducing nicotine cravings.

As China threatened Canada over exports of illegal marijuana, and America’s senior citizens were shown to be the fastest-growing consumer demographic to embrace marijuana reform, the low-rent trade of marijuana prohibition remains under threat for the first week of May.

Sen. Pelosi Advocates Marijuana and Yoga Over Opioids

On Monday, California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-12th District) noted during an April press conference that America’s opioid crisis could be mitigated by embracing two ancient practices – medicinal cannabis use and yoga. Pelosi’s remarks came during a press conference during which she offered support for new legislation to increase funding for opioid treatment, prevention, and research.

An early and ardent supporter of medical marijuana, the House Minority Leader explained during the press conference there are “other ways to relieve stress and pain.” Pelosi, while addressing the opioid legislation introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Congressman Elijah Cummings (D- 7th District), explained “marijuana” and “yoga” provide an alternative, “but are not addictive.”

Sen. Pelosi, along with a majority of Americans, view medical marijuana as a safe, sane, and effective alternative to opioids. And, since marijuana lacks the physically addictive attributes of opioids, more than a few people believe replacing some opioid use with cannabis would likely prevent the overdose-related deaths of thousands of Americans.

Maine Policymakers Override Gov.’s Marijuana Veto

Gov. Paul LePage’s threat to veto legislation that would implement a regulatory system for recreational marijuana was overridden on Wednesday. Passed by a narrow majority of Maine voters in November 2016, marijuana legalization was revived when the state Legislature officially extinguished LePage’s most recent attempt to circumvent the will of the people. While the House voted 109-39 to shut down the LePage veto of legalization, the Senate voted 28-6 to reject the Governor’s latest attempt to block the voter-approved initiative from taking effect.

While the legislation snuffed out marijuana social clubs and reduced the number of plants that can be legally cultivated by individuals, it will allow retail marijuana sales to adults beginning in 2018.

Illinois Senate Votes to Legalize Industrial Hemp

The roots of industrial hemp legalization spread dramatically last week with a unanimous vote (50-0) in the Illinois Senate. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-40th District) and would amend state law so that the legal definition of cannabis excludes industrial hemp. Better-known as the Industrial Hemp Act, Senate Bill 2298 stipulates that any reference to “noxious weed” does not include industrial hemp”. The bill “Provides that a person desiring to grow, cultivate, or process industrial hemp or industrial hemp products must be licensed by the Department of Agriculture.”

The hemp legislation is now headed to the House of Representatives. If passed by the House, the bill would then be sent to the desk of Republican Governor Bruce Rauner for his consideration.

CBD Reduces Nicotine Cravings

In a new study published by the journal Addiction, scientist discovered the CBD cannabinoid offers a promising new way to end the addictive cycle of cigarette smoking. Conducted in a randomized, double-blind crossover study, British researchers found the CBD cannabinoid reduced the “salience and pleasantness of cigarette cues,” when compared with a placebo.

“A single 800 mg oral dose of cannabidiol (CBD) reduced the salience and pleasantness of cigarette cues, compared with placebo, after overnight cigarette abstinence in dependent smokers,” according to the study.