Following important cannabis news articles every day can be a real burn-out, we know. That’s why the Emerald rolls up a chronicle of the headiest news hits, and passes them to you at the end of each week. We Bring You: The Dime.
Pfizer Acquires Biotech Company’s Cannabinoid Research
The maker of one of the COVID-19 vaccines not so quietly announced an acquisition which will include cannabinoid-based therapies. On Monday, December 13th, international pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, agreed to buy Arena Pharmaceuticals for $6.7 billion, reports Green Entrepreneur. Arena, a biotech company, develops therapies for conditions in the field of gastroenterology, dermatology and cardiology, according to Benzinga. The company has also dove into cannabinoid research. As part of the acquisition, Pfizer will also acquire Arena’s cannabinoid research arm. As Ganjapreneur reports, “the acquisition includes Arena’s investigational drug Olorinab, an oral, full agonist of the CB2 receptor formulated to treat symptoms associated with gastrointestinal disorders and other drugs that treat immune-inflammatory diseases.” Now, Pfizer joins a growing list of corporations who’re investing in the industry.
Malta Becomes First to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis, Beating Germany to the Punch
This week, Malta became the first country in the EU to announce it would legalize adult-use cannabis, reports BBC News. The announcement came after Malta’s parliament voted on Tuesday, December 14th in favor of a bill to legalize recreational weed nationwide. President George Vella is expected to sign the bill soon, according to CNN. Matla’s minister for equality, research, and innovation told The New York Times that the move is groundbreaking. ““Malta can be a model for harm reduction,” he said. While public consumption will remain illegal, adults can have 7 grams and grow four plants at home, BBC added. While this makes the country the first in the EU to formally agree to legalization, others — including Germany — have also made their legalization plans clear.
Republican Lawmakers ask Biden-Harris Administration to Reschedule Cannabis, Again
On Thursday, December 16th, two GOP congressmen — Rep. David Joyce and Rep. Don Young — sent a letter to the Biden-Harris Administration asking them to once again consider rescheduling cannabis under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), reports Marijuana Moment. In it, the lawmakers said that “[…] with nearly two-thirds of Americans in agreement on the need for federal cannabis reform, your administration must begin to seriously engage on the topic, despite where you stand,” they added. “Your continued silence speaks volumes.” Before this, Rep. Joyce previously sent the administration a letter in July. In that document, he said rescheduling cannabis was a matter of public health. In a Twitter post, he assured he will continue to pressure the POTUS. “[F]or the sake of researchers, medical professionals and patients across the United States who continue to lose access to life-saving therapies and data every day #cannabis remains over controlled… I will keep asking.”
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