ST in Biology: Cannabis (Final Exam)

How can we further the research of cannabis chemistry

Focus more of the chemical composition using various metabolic techniques and biotechnology; by doing so, this can benefit distributors, physicians, and large databases

In federal prisons, what % of people carry drug convictions

45.3%

Why has the United States incarcerated more people due to drug convictions more than any other country

Because it was under the controlled substance act as a class 1 substance, which made it the leading cause of the arrests

Which of the following is NOT a promising strategy for improving expungement processes according to the research?

Increasing the number of felony offenses eligible for expungements

3 states have requirements of automated expungement set standard waiting periods for criminal record expungements, what are the waiting periods for each state and what regulation do the set standard detail?

The 3 states are California, Illinois and New Mexico. Illinois automatically expunges cannabis related offenses after 1 year but is detailed on what degree the cannabis offenses were, not every cannabis related offense gets expunged. Ilinois and New Mexico has a 2 year wait for certain cannabis related offenses.

Have the legal expungement systems in place resulted in all records being expunged?

No.....many require long and costly processes which mean not all eligible criminal records have been expunged.

How many adults carry a criminal record within the U.S.

1 in 3

How was the data in the article “Clearing Cannabis criminal records” interpreted and collected

It was a qualitative data survey where there were several goals in mind; but the most important were whether states allowed expungements of prior cannabis offenses, and to see the existence of financial requirements for person seeking relief.

What effects do fees and waiting periods have on low-income people's ability to get cannabis expungement

Low-income people find cannabis expungement challenging due to waiting periods and expenses. Access to employment, housing, and education becomes restricted, and improving accessibility and assisting people impacted in reintegrating into society could be accomplished by lowering these obstacles.

Why do some states make it difficult and costly for the expungement of offenses?

They believe that if innate have to go through long, tedious, and costly offenses are less likely to be repeated.

What are some common barriers that individuals face when seeking expungement of cannabis-related criminal records in states that have decriminalized or legalized cannabis?

Some barriers include complex petition processes, financial costs, and lack of awareness.

Among the 39 states and Washington DC that decimalized or legalized cannabis use, how many states were found to permit some kind of expungement program? And within those states that allowed expungement, how many states had cannabis-specific expungement?

36 permitted some kind of expungement of conviction records related to cannabis; 21 offered cannabis-specific expungements

What factor below helped determined the characteristics of states expungements programs

Type of offense eligible for expungements

What is the most effective approach for preventing cannabis use among adolescents?

Family-based prevention programs

What are the authors strategies for reducing C.sativa related harm after legalization?

They suggest the government create a monopoly on cannabis production and sales, use taxes to discourage heavy use, decrease the number and location of retail cannabis outlets, and deter people who use cannabis from driving while impaired.

How can heavy cannabis use contribute to death?

Cardiovascular disease and stroke

What countries produce the most high school and household surveys about long-term trends and data on recreational cannabis use?

Australia, Canada, and United States

What are the harms related to recreational cannabis use?

Overdose of cannabis can produce anxiety, depression, psychotic symptoms, and cardiovascular/gastrointestinal symptoms along with cognitive and psychomotor performance.

In ______, doctors can prescribe herbal cannabis for medical uses when recognized treatments have failed.

Israel

Based on US surveys from the 1990s, what percentage of people who tried cannabis became dependent compared to the dependence rates for substances like nicotine and heroin?

9% for cannabis, 32% for nicotine, and 23% for heroin

Which was the first state to legalize medical marijuana

California

What are some marijuana withdrawal symptoms ?

Nausea, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping

What happened after Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012?

By 2016, they collected a huge amount in taxes—between $143-185 million that year alone. In fact, by 2015, Colorado was making twice as much in taxes from marijuana as it was from alcohol, and this was expected to reach four times as much by the end of 2016. Fewer people were being arrested or taken to court for marijuana, which saved a lot of money and resources for police and the courts. This meant the state could put those savings toward other important things.

What was the change of law under Senate Bill 95 that decriminalized marijuana?

The change of law under Senate Bill 95 was to decrease the consequences of possession of marijuana. Possession of marijuana of more than an ounce became a misdemeanor and people who committed the crime would not be imprisoned for more than six months and would not have to pay a fine more than $500.00. Also, the arresting officer would have a choice whether to take the person into custody or issue a citation. This change provided more time for law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.

Ainslingers propaganda stated cannabis caused...

Psychosis and insanity. Mental deterioration, violent crime and murder

Under S.B 95, possession of more than how many ounces became a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months

1 ounce

On May 31, 1985, the FDA approved the use of a drug called Marinol. What use of utilizing Marinol

Use in loss of appetite associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS, nausea/vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.

When did California become the first state to authorize medical marijuana, and what was the initiative's name?

California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, with Proposition 215, often known as the Compassionate Use Act.

The CDAPCA increased research and drug rehabilitation and treatment programs. What did this expansion include?

The expansion included rehabilitation centers and medical centers that provide counseling and psychological services. The CDAPCA also included extensive drug education policy to promote and educate drug abuse to the public.

What was the primary reason for the creation of the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act in 1914?

The primary reason for the creation of the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act in 1914 was to regulate opium and coca leaves in the United States, marking the first federal regulation aimed at controlling drug legislation.

What was the main purpose of the 1944 La Guardia Committee Report requested by New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia?

To examine and debunk various myths and concerns about marijuana, including its supposed link to "madness," addiction, and crime

Color Tests

Faster, simpler, less specific/sensitive, with less analytical information.

Analytical scheme for mass spectroscopy (NMR/FTIR)

More time consuming, most complex/specific/sensitive with the most analytical information

Presumptive Tests of Cannabis

Color tests ((Duquenois-Levine for cannabis); Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC); Immunoassays (e.g., lateral flow tests for THC).

Thin Layer Chromatography

Stationary Phase: Sample spotted on TLC plate. Mobile Phase: Compounds separated based on their polarity over time.

Confirmation Tests

Separation of drug compounds for analysis. Types include GC-MS, LC-MS, IR and supercritical fluid chromatography

Applications of Infrared Spectroscopy

Cannabis potency testing, Monitoring growth and curing, field analysis

Challenges in Identification and Regulation

Rapid evolution of compounds, lack of reference standards, unpredictable potency and effects, and mislabeling/marketing

Pesticies from Cannabis infused products

TO meet safety standards, the amount of pesticides in products must not exceed specific limits, often measured in ppm (parts per million)

What was one of the primary motivations for cannabis legalization in the Americas

The desire to regulate cannabis to minimize public health risk

Which country was the first to fully legalize cannabis on a national level for both medicinal and recreational use?

Canada

What has been a significant challenge in assessing the long-term health impacts of cannabis legislation

Insufficient funding for research

Which health condition showed some evidence of improvement when treated with cannabis?

Hypertension

Which state was the first to legalize recreational marijuana use, starting retail sales in 2014

Colorado

What was the key economic impacts noted for Colorado after legislating marijuana for recreational use

Increase in overall state tax revenue with funds directed toward education and health services

What was the key economic impacts noted for Colorado after legislating marijuana for recreational use

The report indicated that marijuana did not lead to addiction or violent crime as previously claimed

What was one of the key economic impacts noted for Colorado after legalizing marijuana for recreational use

Decline in all forms of drug-related crimes in the state

The institute of Medicine 1999 report concluded that

Cannabinoids had potential therapeutic value, particularly for pain relief, nausea control, and appetite stimulation

When was marijuana first used for medical purposes according to the text

2737 B.C.

The marijuana tax act of 1937 was significant because it

Imposed a tax on marijuana and required individuals to register for it

Who was a major advocate against marijuana, claiming it led to psychosis and insanity

Harry Anslinger

The Harrison narcotics Tax Act of 1914 was significant in the U.S. drug policy because it…

Began federal regulation of narcotics, focusing initially on opium and cocoa leaves

Proposition 215, passed in California in 1996, was significant because

Allowed individuals to grow and use marijuana for medical purposes with a physicians recommendation

According to 2010 report by Miron & Waldock, legalizing marijuana could potentially save U.S. government expenses by approximately

$41.3 billion

Which population is disproportionally affected by cannabis, according to the study

African Americans

What percentage of people eligible for expungement in 10 states actually petitioned for it

Less than 10%

Which state does NOT offer expungement of prior cannabis offenses

Florida

What was NOT a barrier to cannabis expungement as identified in the study

Automated expungement systems

What percent of surveyed states had automated expungement systems for cannabis offenses

22.5%

Which method did the authors primarily use to collect expungement law data

Retrospective analysis of state websites and legal databases

What was the main objective of the study on cannabis criminal record expungement

To determine the availability and accessibility of expungement for cannabis offenders