Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Is There Anything It Can't Do?
From The Times (London): Cannabis treats for canines could ease pets’ pain.
The cannabis industry, driven by the easing of drug laws across the US, is turning its sights on a new group of potential users — ill and elderly dogs.
The “pet-pot” market is new but shows promise, its pioneers say. Products already available include “Treat-ibles” — canine snacks infused with CBD, or cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis family.
Auntie Dolores Kitchen, the company behind Treat-ibles, suggests that CBD could be used on dogs to suppress nausea, induce appetite and to manage pain and mood disorders.
Researchers believe that CBD could have medical applications for humans, including treating severe epilepsy.
The dog treats, which cost $22 for a box of 40, do not contain THC, the compound that gets cannabis users high.
The company’s website says that the absence of THC makes Treat-ibles “completely legal as a hemp-derived product”. Hemp and cannabis belong to the same family but the US government defines hemp as having less than 0.3 per cent THC. A higher concentration means that the plant is regarded as cannabis, illegal under federal law.
Other American companies offering “pet-pot” products have received letters from federal regulators, warning them that they are breaking the law by selling unapproved drugs. However, the legal landscape could be shifting. In Nevada, a bill is being considered that would grant access to medical cannabis for pets. The proposal comes as a growing number of American states relax local cannabis laws. Nevada is one of 23 states where medical pot is legal.
If PETA figures out that marijuana bans equal animal abuse, things will really start to happen.
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/cannabis_law/2015/04/is-there-anything-it-cant-do.html
