Author Kate Simmons

The National Fraternal Order of Police released a statement through its website last month suggesting that Donald Trump make good on campaign proposals and tackle a number of issues within his first 100 days in office. In addition to more than a dozen proposals that would dismantle much of the reforms suggested by President Barack Obama’s policing task force in 2015, the FOP also requested that Trump not use federal law enforcement agencies to pursue violations of marijuana in states where the “use, manufacture and possession of marijuana” is legal. And, in fact, the FOP asks for more research into medical marijuana.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment just announced another round of grants — totaling $2.35 million — that will fund seven studies researching the health and safety impacts of marijuana. About $1.7 million will go to projects studying how marijuana affects driving ability, which has been a hot topic around town and inspired the creation of a green lab for law enforcement training.

This is the second round of awards from marijuana-related tax funds authorized by the Colorado Legislature. Each awardee went through a review and scoring process; the seven were chosen from 58 initial applications.

On December 14, the Drug Enforcement Administration added a new code for marijuana extracts and made it clear that such extracts, including CBD oil, are illegal.

Although this does not represent a change in federal law, many CBD producers have operated under the assumption that cannabis-based products with less than the 0.3 THC percentage that’s allowed in hemp would be legal. But that’s not the case, according to this DEA announcement.

Andrew Freedman spends his days neck-deep in cannabis. As the director of the Governor’s Office of Marijuana Coordination for Colorado, he knows the ins and outs of just about everything about the drug and how it relates to the state. We just sat down with him to discuss, among other things, Denver’s social-use initiative and how the state will be involved in implementation, how states that legalized marijuana in November are building on Colorado’s model, and where he thinks Colorado businesses might expand next.

Today you’ll have a chance to ask Freedman your own questions during our Facebook Live interview with him at 2 p.m. But first, our own Q&A:

Cannabinoid hypermesis syndrome (CHS) was first reported in Australia in 2004, and it’s in the news again after a Missoulian article came out about the disease this month.

CHS causes recurring nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Symptoms have reportedly improved after patients take a hot shower or bath or stop using cannabis.