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In early March 2023, the US Justice Department launched an online application for individuals who were pardoned for simple possession of cannabis under President Biden's October 6, 2022 proclamation. Applicants can now receive a certificate of proof of their pardon.

US Justice Department Launches Online Application for Certificate of Proof of Cannabis Possession Pardon

The House and Senate introduced a revised bill to mandate Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct research on the effects of medical cannabis on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. 

House and Senate Introduce Bill to Direct Veterans Affairs to Study Medical Cannabis to Treat Certain Conditions

A statement released on Thursday, January 26, 2023 from Dr. Janet Woodcock, the principal deputy commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced that the FDA will work with Congress in formulating regulatory oversight to balance risk and access for products in the cannabidiol (CBD) market.

Food and Drug Administration to Work with Congress on Creating Regulatory Framework for the Cannabidiol Market

On December 2nd, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, the first piece of standalone cannabis legislation in US history to become law. It will reportedly streamline a new process for cannabis research applications and for manufacturing products for drug development and allow for a larger amount of legal cannabis for research purposes.

Historic Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act is Signed into Law

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recently posted a notice to Drug Enforcement Agency-approved cannabis manufacturers that they will soon be able to submit applications to supply cannabis for research purposes. Currently, NIDA has only worked with one cannabis farm for the past 50 years–the new cannabis supplier selected by NIDA would be the second federally authorized in the country.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Plans to Add One New Cannabis Supplier Contract for Research Purposes

Brian C. Smith, PhD, is Founder, CEO, and Chief Technical Officer of Big Sur Scientific. He is the inventor of the BSS series of patented mid-infrared based cannabis analyzers. Dr. Smith has done pioneering research and published numerous peer-reviewed papers on the application of mid-infrared spectroscopy to cannabis analysis, and sits on the editorial board of Cannabis Science and Technology. He has worked as a laboratory director for a cannabis extractor, as an analytical chemist for Waters Associates and PerkinElmer, and as an analytical instrument salesperson. He has more than 30 years of experience in chemical analysis and has written three books on the subject. Dr. Smith earned his PhD on physical chemistry from Dartmouth College. Direct correspondence to: 

This column discusses where the USDA went wrong in their final rule regarding hemp and how the author thinks it can be fixed.

Hemp Testing Insanity III: This Time It’s the USDA!

Here we take a closer look at the cannabis industry in Canada and speak to several Canadians involved in the industry.

Around the World: Canada’s Footprint on the Cannabis Industry

A discussion on how extractors need to monitor the chemical processes they perform.

The FDA is Coming…Will the Cannabis Industry Be Ready? Part III: Process Control for Extractors

Congress passes the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act and the Medical Marijuana Research Act in two historic votes, signifying a growing shift toward cannabis legalization.

Congress Passes Two Historic Cannabis Reform Bills

How will the need for increased testing impact extractors?