Health

Per the Maryland State Police: “Maryland State Police are asking people to properly dispose of unwanted prescription drugs during national drug take back day. Citizens can drop off unused prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at all 23 Maryland State Police barracks. Maryland State Police are participating as part of the 25^th National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative by the Drug Enforcement Administration. During the last take back in April, the DEA collected about 11,750 pounds of unwanted drugs at more than 100 sites in Maryland from 31 law enforcement agencies, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Maryland State Police collected more than 1,100 pounds including:

The event aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing prescription drugs, while educating the public about medication misuse. All Maryland State Police barracks are equipped with secure drug collection boxes that are available 24/7. Citizens can drop off unused medications at the closest barrack—no questions asked at any time, even if they are unable to participate in Saturday’s event.

Per the Maryland Department of Health: The Maryland Department of Health has been awarded a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand Alzheimer’s and related dementias prevention and care programs in the state. The grant period is from September 30, 2023 to September 29, 2028. Maryland is one of 43 states, cities, and territories to receive funding through the federal Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, signed into law in 2018, to create a national public health infrastructure to combat Alzheimer’s and related dementias and preserve brain health.

“Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias represent an urgent and costly public health crisis,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Laura Herrera Scott. “This grant will help Maryland provide support and resources within communities most impacted by this devastating disease and lessen the burden on caregivers and families.”

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a multistate coalition of 24 Attorneys General in protecting access to abortion medication nationwide. The coalition filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) and Danco Laboratories LLC’s petitions to reverse the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s ruling that reinstated certain medically unnecessary, and previously eliminated, restrictions on the medication.

The coalition is urging the Supreme Court to grant the petitions to bring the case on medication abortion before the court. The coalition also asks the Supreme Court to reverse the Fifth Circuit’s decision that restricts how mifepristone can be prescribed and dispensed. The brief highlights that the Fifth Circuit’s decision ignores decades of high-quality evidence and clinical research that shows mifepristone is safe and effective.

Per the Maryland Department of Health: The Maryland Department of Health today announced the first travel-related Powassan virus death in Maryland. The Department confirmed the presence of Powassan, which is spread by the bite of an infected tick, on Sept. 22, with subsequent follow-ups reinforcing that result.

“We are very saddened to report the first death due to the Powassan virus in our state,” said Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman. “Powassan is very rare, and this is the first-ever case recorded in Maryland. The individual contracted the virus in Canada and returned to Maryland afterward. We do not believe that Powassan poses any threat of local transmission in Maryland. As always, we urge everyone to practice good habits when in areas that could have ticks or avoid those areas altogether.”

$90,977,416 million of cannabis was sold in the state of Maryland during the month of September, according to the Maryland Cannabis Administration, just short of the $91 million sold in August.  These totals include both medical and recreational marijuana sales. Recreational cannabis sales became legal in the state on the July 1, 2023.  Any resident over the age of 21 with a valid government ID is now legally allowed to purchase and possess cannabis products from registered dispensaries in Maryland. A complete list of cannabis dispensaries in Montgomery County below can be found below.

Bethesda: 

Per the State of Maryland: Today, Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller received a training on overdose response and using the opioid overdose reversal medicine naloxone at the State House. They also recognized September as National Recovery Month and reiterated the administration’s support for increasing access to substance use treatment and recovery services.

“Overdose has touched so many Maryland families, including my own,” said Lt. Gov. Miller. “We need to create a seat at the table for everyone as we continue to identify ways to reach those who need support. Whether it’s state government, community organizations, local partners, or individuals, we all have a role to play in combating the overdose crisis and saving lives – and we can all start by carrying naloxone and recognizing the signs of an overdose.”

Despite the growing number of states who have legally authorized, regulated cannabis businesses, including Maryland, cannabis remains classified as an illegal substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act and certain federal banking statutes. Because cannabis remains classified as an illegal substance, banks providing services to state-licensed cannabis dispensaries and related businesses are at risk for criminal and civil liability. This risk has significantly inhibited the ability of financial institutions to provide services to regulated cannabis operators and leaves those businesses struggling to find financing. The lack of access to banking services creates both barriers to entry into the industry and instability for existing businesses. In addition, the current banking restrictions constrict state agencies’ effort to collect taxes and conduct oversight. Further, as too many states have seen, when regulated businesses can only conduct business in cash, employees and customers are at greater risk of violent crime in pursuit of that cash.

“Legal cannabis businesses should have access to funding that provides them opportunities equal to other industries to grow, contribute to the economy, and create new jobs. This is particularly important for small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses, which have faced disproportionately high barriers to accessing funding,” said Attorney General Brown. “Just like any other business, the cannabis industry cannot operate safely, transparently, or effectively without access to financial services. Without the SAFER Banking Act, we are setting up these businesses to fail, and opportunities for Marylanders will be lost.”