Grand Forks man sentenced to 42 months for illegal firearm possession
Raymond Lee Graham Jr., 38,
pleaded guilty to his sole felony charge in January.
Graham was
originally charged at the state level,
where he faced five charges for drug, weapon and similar crimes.
He was pulled over and fled from police, who found 1.2 pounds of marijuana, seven grams of marijuana coated in what appeared to be methamphetamine, empty baggies, fake urine and a box of 18 THC vape pens inside his vehicle, according to court documents.
Police found a firearm on Graham when he was apprehended.
The case, filed in June, 2024, was dismissed a month later after
Graham was indicted in federal court.
The federal charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon arose because he has a criminal background of attempted robbery, robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the indictment.
The crime has a maximum 15-year prison sentence, but Graham was ordered to serve three and a half years. The judge ordered he be placed at a facility that is the lowest security level, as close as possible to North Dakota, and that the facility offers treatment for substance abuse — including the 500-hour Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program (RDAP).
The criminal judgment also said Graham should be allowed to participate in any education or vocational opportunities, as well as any mental health treatments deemed appropriate by the Bureau of Prisons.
After release from prison, Graham will be on supervised release for three years. Conditions of his release will include abstaining from alcohol and drug use, submitting to screening for substance use and allowing his property to be searched.
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Forbes
9 hours ago
- Forbes
Truckin' To 2030: Europe's Green Horizon For Medical Cannabis & Hemp
Europe's cannabis sector is undergoing a profound transformation—one driven by evolving regulations, changing social attitudes, and rising institutional investor interest. Germany, as the continent's largest economy, stands at the heart of this transition, leading a dual trajectory in both medical cannabis and industrial hemp. What was once niche is now positioned as a cornerstone of sustainable health, clean materials, and innovative investment opportunities. You might say that the European industry appears to be built to last. Market Overview and Segmentation Europe's cannabis landscape is divided into two distinct segments: THC‑containing cannabis (above 0.3% THC), regulated primarily for medical and sometimes adult-use purposes; and industrial hemp (below 0.3% THC), employed in foods, textiles, bioplastics, cosmetics, and construction. While sharing a botanical origin—Cannabis sativa L.—each operates under its own regulatory framework, supply chain, and market focus. Understanding this segmentation is essential for investors and policymakers evaluating risk and opportunity. Globally, the medical cannabis market was valued at approximately €4.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach over €62 billion by 2030—recording a staggering compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 55%. Europe, fueled by demographic shifts and legal liberalization, is forecasted to be the fastest-growing region. Meanwhile, the industrial hemp market is poised to triple to around €15 billion by 2030, according to UNCTAD projections, driven by surging demand for climate-friendly materials and plant-based nutrition. Regulatory Developments The eyes of the world are on Germany, as it has emerged as the regulatory focal point in Europe. Its Cannabis Act (CanG), enacted in 2024, removed restrictive quotas and significantly expanded medical access. A complementary Medical Cannabis Act (MedCanG) is under development, emphasizing pharmacy-based distribution while tightening telemedicine channels. In parallel, a new Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act is expected in 2026, poised to eliminate outdated restrictions and modernize hemp production regulation. On the EU level, the classification of CBD as a Novel Food is opening doors to wellness and nutrition markets previously inaccessible for hemp producers. Growth in Medical Cannabis Since medical cannabis legalization in 2017, German patient numbers have soared—with 300,000 individuals receiving prescriptions in 2024, estimated to grow to 840,000 in 2025. By 2030, the market is expected to reach €650 million. Innovations in formulation—such as high-purity extracts, dronabinol pills, and cannabinoid pastilles—are expanding therapeutic use across neurology, chronic pain, and oncology. Major operators like SYNBIOTIC SE are leading the charge, developing standardized dosage forms and investing in regulated production. Global companies such as Tilray, Aurora, OrganiGram, and Canada's Sanity Group (via its partnership with OrganiGram) are deepening their European presence, underlining the continent's rising magnetism for international cannabis investors. Industrial Hemp as a Sustainability Engine Industrial hemp, long undervalued, is now recognized as a strategic asset in Europe's green economy. German industrial hemp sales grew from €526 million in 2023 to a projected €3 billion by 2032 (CAGR ~22%). Applications range from hemp-protein powders to sustainable building insulation and biodegradable packaging. EU regulatory shifts—especially Novel Food approvals for CBD—further enable consumer-facing products. Companies such as Hempro International and new-era ventures targeting hemp-based construction materials and plant-based supplements illustrate the growing breadth of the market. Investment Opportunities and Strategic Challenges Europe is increasingly attractive to North American capital. SYNBIOTIC SE exemplifies a diversified strategy, combining medical cannabis and hemp under a unified corporate model. The publicly traded holding company expects revenues to climb from €26 million in 2025 to €47 million by 2027, with positive EBITDA forecasted in 2026. This dual exposure provides a hedge against regulatory divergence and price compression in either sector. David Hyde, founder and CEO of Hyde Advisory & Investments, plays a pivotal role in monitoring and facilitating cannabis investments in Germany. Through his firm's expert brokerage services, Hyde navigates complex regulatory frameworks, matches strategic partners, and helps investors identify high-quality medical cannabis assets in the German market. Drawing from his firm's insights, Hyde notes: Germany's medical cannabis market continues to grow, albeit more slowly than Australia's. While German market competition is increasing, there is lots of room for new brand/category entrants with proper market research, understanding of developed cannabis markets and the right distribution partner(s)." Several industry leaders are confident that Europe represents the next major frontier for cannabis investment. As Boris Jordan, Executive Chairman of Curaleaf, put it, '[Europe is the next big market for cannabis after the U.S.]' Meanwhile, Irwin Simon, CEO of Tilray, emphasizes the scale of the opportunity: 'Germany's de-scheduling of cannabis opens the path to new opportunities in a potential $3 billion medical market; the European Union medical cannabis market is now projected to become $45 billion.' Constantin von der Groeben, founder of Demecan, reflects on Germany's growth momentum: 'The market is on a constant growth that is overwhelming,' while Beau Whitney, head economist at Whitney Economics, sees a broader European transformation underway: 'We can expect an accelerated expansion in the EU of legalised cannabis… If countries reform quickly, then the EU could supplant the U.S. as the major leader in global cannabis reform.' Yet investors must navigate risks: regulatory uncertainty (especially around telemedicine and CBD policy), intense price competition as production scales, limited banking integration, and macroeconomic volatility. The fragmented legal landscape further complicates capital deployment in cannabis-related ventures. Why Legalization Is Working The legalization model in Europe—and particularly in Germany—has shown measurable success. Its framework promotes transparency, standards for safety and quality, and integration into conventional health systems. The emphasis on licensing, standardized extracts, and court-regulated pharmacies mirrors a methodical approach, providing market certainty for investors and patients alike. Moreover, reform frameworks that prioritize illicit-market conversion—such as transitioning traditional, unregulated growers into legal cooperatives—mirror best practices championed by analysts like Whitney Economics. This conversion aligns economic incentives, reduces social harms, and demonstrates the sustainability of the legal regime. Outlook to 2030 As of 2025, both medical cannabis and industrial hemp are poised to become multibillion-euro pillars of Europe's economy. By 2030, medical cannabis in Europe could exceed €10 billion, while industrial hemp ascends as an eco-driven mainstay. Companies rooted in innovation, regulatory compliance, and product diversification will lead market consolidation. Germany will remain the driving force behind this evolution—acting as the regulatory pioneer and investment hub for cannabis in Europe. Institutional and private investors seeking long-term value should consider pan-European platforms that bridge both cannabis segments, such as publicly traded SYNBIOTIC SE. Their IFRS-audited integrated model reflects the shift to a new chapter in medicine and an innovative sustainable economy. END NOTES: CanG Gesetz 2024 – UNCTAD 2022 – Cannabissciencetech 2024 – CannaMonitor 2025 – Credence Research – Grand View Research – IMARC Group – Luminorecruit 2025 – MJBizDaily 2024 – Novel Food – OrganiGram/Sanity Group 2024 – Research And Markets 2024 – Reuters 2024 – Statista – Weedman 2025 –
National Geographic
15 hours ago
- National Geographic
Why synthetic pot could be the future of pain relief
Photographs by Sergiy Barchuk This article is part of The New Cannabis, a National Geographic exploration into the most critical questions raised by today's stronger, stranger, ever more accessible weed. Learn more. They call it the holy grail of pain-relief research: a medicine that is comparable to the strongest opioids but lacks their potentially devastating side effects. When biophysicist and structural biologist Kaavya Krishna Kumar set out looking for a novel way to develop one, she knew she needed to start with a substance that hit the body incredibly hard. So she took to the seedier corners of the online forum Reddit, where she learned about an illicit street drug with a reputation for making people both very high and very sick. 'It's OUT OF THIS WORLD POTENT,' read one recreational user's post. 'A very, very small, almost invisible amount of powder skyrockets you into stoned euphoria.' The drug is called FUBINACA, and it's what's known as a synthetic cannabinoid, a molecule designed in a lab to target the same parts of the nervous system affected by tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. Underground chemists have been making drugs like it since the early 2000s, when recreational marijuana was still criminalized in the United States and synthetic cannabinoids began catching on as cheap, quasi-legal alternatives. From their powdered form, they're typically dissolved into solvents, which are then sprayed onto plant shreds to be sold, with a wink, as incense or potpourri. 'Not for human consumption,' the label may read—a dodge against regulation. Sold under monikers like spice or K2, these gray market synthetics have raised public health alarms for both their toxicity and their contamination risks. The exact chemicals and their concentrations can vary from product to product, with side effects ranging from mania to heart attacks. But Krishna Kumar—then at Stanford Medicine, now at Weill Cornell Medicine—saw in FUBINACA a tool for better understanding how our pain-management system works. And after some clever molecular modeling, she and a team led by researchers from Stanford and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis devised an innovative way of modifying it. Earlier this year, the team published a study showing a FUBINACA-derived drug providing sustained pain relief in mice, seemingly without psychoactive or tolerance-building side effects. Such side effects have stymied progress on other would-be cannabinoid pain relievers, dampening enthusiasm for what once seemed like a promising opioid alternative. Now some scientists hope the research can breathe new life into that work—and perhaps open up even wider therapeutic frontiers. Fubinaca wasn't always a street drug. It was developed by Pfizer and patented in 2009, part of an effort to create 'a superpowered aspirin with no side effects,' according to former Pfizer chemist Darin Jones. Like THC, synthetic cannabinoids activate a powerful chemical receptor known as CB1. In humans and other mammals, CB1 is found on nerve cells in the brain and, crucially, on cells elsewhere in the body. It's known to influence not only the perception of pain but also sleep, metabolism, and memory, making it a promising target for pharmaceutical research. (A second cannabinoid receptor, CB2, seems mostly to regulate the functions of immune cells.) Of course, the path to market for any new drug must take into account future profitability. And while it's unclear just what scuttled Pfizer's research, Jones theorizes it had to do with the increasing legality of medical marijuana, which was suddenly 'pennies a pound' at proliferating dispensaries. But when the company published its patent, that became a blueprint for so-called garage chemists to replicate the formula and create analogues. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reports that law enforcement has encountered hundreds of different synthetic cannabinoids, most of them manufactured in Asia. Variants of Pfizer's FUBINACA, the first of which was detected in Japan in 2012, are known as some of the most toxic. In 2014 dozens of deaths in Russia were linked to an analogue called MDMB-FUBINACA. Two years later, another variant was behind a mass overdose in Brooklyn, New York, that the media characterized as a 'zombie outbreak.' But Krishna Kumar hoped to pick up where Pfizer left off, harnessing that potency. First, she examined how MDMB-FUBINACA attached to human CB1 receptors in a dish. Compared to other synthetic cannabinoids, she found, it held tighter and activated effects more powerfully. Then, using a Nobel Prize–winning technology called cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), she flash froze that FUBINACA molecule while it was affixed to CB1 and scanned the conjoined pair with a beam of electrons. The result was a 3D picture, down to individual atoms, of how the drug fit so well into a pocket, or binding site, on the receptor's surface—like a key in a lock. Chronic pain affects as many as one in five people worldwide. As early as the Middle Ages, Arab physicians sought dosages of cannabis that 'killed pain but did not intoxicate,' wrote historian Martin Booth. That image provided a starting point for designing new versions of FUBINACA that might, by stimulating the receptor in new ways, keep the original's potency while limiting side effects. For that, Krishna Kumar turned to Susruta Majumdar, a Washington University chemist and pharmacologist, whose lab had previously shown that activating a particular site on an opioid receptor could inhibit chemical reactions that lead to tolerance. Might this be possible for CB1? The researchers knew that CB1, a cousin to that opioid receptor, had a potential binding site with similar qualities—but it was deep inside the receptor and, in Krishna Kumar's cryo-EM snapshot, blocked by clusters of atoms. It was also the wrong shape to fit FUBINACA. So Majumdar's team started sketching bespoke attachments for the cannabinoid, chains of atoms that might help the molecule worm its way in. Meanwhile, Stanford scientists took another approach, animating the static snapshot using computer simulations, showing how atoms in the drug and the receptor moved around each other. The simulations revealed something surprising: The atom clusters blocking that tantalizing site sporadically moved aside, opening what biochemists call a cryptic pocket, allowing researchers a glimpse in. Tweaking their designs to fit, Majumdar's team made one other crucial adjustment in the hope of nixing FUBINACA's psychoactive side effects. The newly accessible site, it turned out, could accept a compound with a positive electric charge, which hinders a molecule from crossing the membrane separating blood from the brain. By tacking a charged group of atoms onto FUBINACA, researchers confined its activity to CB1 receptors outside the brain—where it can't get anyone high or act on the brain's reward circuitry, limiting risks of misuse and abuse. New versions of FUBINACA were injected into rodents experiencing various kinds of pain. And one variant, which the researchers called VIP36, showed indicators of relieving chronic pain from three different sources—inflammation, nerve damage, and headaches—even after days of repeated injections. True, says Washington University neurobiologist Robert Gereau, all that molecular tinkering had reduced the drug's potency—and thus its pain-relieving effects. But where that might have left other cannabinoids toothless, Gereau says, VIP36 remained 'effective in a range that is useful clinically,' precisely because FUBINACA packed such a wallop to begin with. VIP36 is still in its baby steps phase. It has yet to be tested in humans, who have fewer CB1 receptors outside of their brains than rodents do. And, for now, the new compound can't be taken orally, only injected. But even if the drug never reaches your medicine cabinet, the research could still chart new pharmaceutical paths. For one, it might occasion a reassessment from those skeptical of cannabinoids' potential as medicine—a constituency that includes the world's largest pain-research organization, the International Association for the Study of Pain, whose official position is that science has so far failed to prove cannabinoids either safe or effective. 'This is the perfect paper to help re-put steam into the cannabinoid field,' says Michael Burton, a neuroscientist and cannabinoid researcher at the University of Texas at Dallas. What's more, Majumdar says, there may be other cryptic pockets in other receptors related to CB1, many of which have nothing to do with pain. Some have been linked to heart disease, for instance, or substance abuse disorders. This opens an enticing possibility: What the researchers have learned about changing a receptor's behavior could help them tinker with a whole range of drugs. Majumdar is already planning to revisit a previous study that unsuccessfully targeted a hard-to-reach opioid receptor. He imagines redesigning antidepressants, maybe cancer drugs. 'Targeting diseases beyond pain is expected in the near future,' he says. 'We are just scratching the surface.' This story appears in the September 2025 issue of National Geographic magazine. Set Design: Mat Cullen, Lalaland Artists
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Texas DA Could Face Prison for Weed Smoking Protest
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Texas district attorney could face a prison sentence for livestreaming herself smoking marijuana to protest a proposed ban on weed-associated products. Sarah Stogner, a Republican district attorney for Texas's 143rd Judicial District, said she bought the marijuana from New Mexico, where it is legal to do so and transported it to Texas to smoke outside her home in Ward County to make a point. In doing so, she could be arrested on a misdemeanor possession charge. Stogner told Newsweek that she wasn't concerned about being prosecuted because, as a district attorney, she has jurisdiction in the area she smoked in and because juries don't want to prosecute those who possess or even deal marijuana. "I did this to raise attention," she said. "Its silly that our elected officials want to completely ban THC when that's not what our constituents want." Why It Matters Stogner's action follows a sustained conflict about whether to permit certain cannabis products in Texas. THC is an $8 billion industry in Texas, and a number of experts say the drug is beneficial for medicinal reasons. Others warn of safety concerns about the use of THC. In June, Texas Governor Greg Abbott vetoed a proposed ban on cannabis-derived compounds, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products. However, similar legislation is to be mooted in a special session item in the state Senate, after it passed the House on Friday. It would ban the sale of products containing THC but would allow the sale of other cannabinoids. THC products that Texas lawmakers were seeking to ban are seen at the Dope Daughters dispensary in Austin on May 29, 2025. THC products that Texas lawmakers were seeking to ban are seen at the Dope Daughters dispensary in Austin on May 29, 2025. AP Photo/Eric Gay What To Know Possessing cannabis in Texas is classed as a Class B misdemeanor. This carries up to 180 days in prison and up to a $2,000 fine. Transporting cannabis across state lines also carries a potential $250,000 fine or a five-year prison sentence, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. In her video, Stogner addressed Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, a proponent of banning marijuana. She also posted an image of her smoking marijuana on X and directed it to Patrick, whom she called on to "free the plant." Stogner told The New York Times she lined up a defense lawyer and alerted the local district judge before her stunt. What People Are Saying Matthew Mangino, a former district attorney in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, told Newsweek: "I don't see Sarah Stogner getting prosecuted by the state of Texas. First, she is a Republican, recently recruited to unseat a Democrat DA in rural Texas. Second, she targeted the lieutenant governor for his support of a THC ban, while Governor Abbott is not seeking a ban on THC, only regulation." Texas Governor Greg Abbott previously told Newsweek: "Texas can and should reasonably regulate consumable hemp products to protect public health and safety. THC products for Texans under 21 should be banned, as should be dangerous synthetic products. We can do that without also eliminating consumer access to adults." Stogner told Austin news station KVUE-TV that she would consider posting similar videos again: "Because it raises awareness, and I'm a nobody from nowhere. With social media and the ability to have a voice, that's how you have a voice." "I'm tired of our elected officials not doing what's best for the people on the ground," she added. "We've got real crimes to prosecute—oilfield theft, rape, murder—and right now, we can't enforce the law as written on marijuana because of testing requirements." "If we want to protect kids, then we need to legalize and regulate it, and we need to tax it, just like we do with alcohol," she said. What Happens Next Whether Stogner faces legal consequences for her protest remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the ban will need to face the Senate and, if passed, Abbott's approval before becoming a law.
