News On The Green: Pardons And Infusions

\ Jun 25, 2020

2 min read

Officials in Nevada have authorized the unconditional pardon of thousands of convicted cannabis offenders.

According to the Associated Press, the State Board of Pardons Commissioners in Nevada unanimously voted to pardon anyone who was convicted of possessing an ounce or less of marijuana in the past two decades. Recreational cannabis has been legal in Nevada since 2017. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana was defelonized in the state in 2001.

Gov. Steve Sisolak’s office said that thousands of people will be pardoned thanks to the resolution. However, Sisolak’s office said that the order does not include language that would compel the state to seal the records of those who are pardoned.

Prisoners will have to fill out an application and submit a copy of their criminal history to be considered for a pardon. The process will be free and available online.

The offer isn’t open to all cannabis offenders, however. Those who were arrested before 2001 are still considered felons and can’t be pardoned by the state. Those who pleaded guilty to possessing an ounce or less of marijuana along with other crimes as part of a plea bargaining process are also ineligible for a pardon.

Cannabis Can Lead to THC-Infused Semen

A new study says frequent cannabis use can cause semen to become infused with THC and other cannabinoids.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School recently published a report in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics that found that delta-9 THC can be detected in the semen of regular cannabis users.

The study involved the participation of 12 healthy men aged 18 to 45 who identified as having been chronic and heavy users of inhaled cannabis for more than five years. The research team measured the THC and THC metabolite levels in serum, urine and semen samples taken from the participants and found that urinary THC was detected in all 12 participants, and at least one serum THC metabolite was present in 10 of 12 participants. The two remaining semen samples reportedly had insufficient volume to be analyzed.

The authors say this is the first study of its kind. They claim the findings are significant because it demonstrates that THC can cross the blood-testis barrier in certain individuals and can potentially affect pregnancies. The researchers point out that men of reproductive age are “the most prevalent consumers of marijuana.”