The European Journal of Internal Medicine recently published a study that should wake even the most steadfast deniers of the effectiveness of cannabis as medicine. The Israeli research team included the godfather of cannabis research, Raphael Mechoulam, the man who first identified cannabinoids (active compounds in the plant) and the system of receptors that make them effective.
The study was a large population analysis over a two-year period of nearly 3,000 patients, each with various types of cancer. Just over half of participants were in stage 4 of the disease when studied. About the same percentage said that the pain they had been experiencing was extreme. Their average age was 60.
Specific strains of cannabis from one producer were made available to patients. The specific reasons for use were primarily for pain, inducing sleep, nausea and lack of appetite.
While outcomes of studies like this can sometimes be ambiguous, the results of this one could not have been foretold. At a six-month follow-up a whopping “96% reported an improvement in their condition.”
As may be expected, the researchers concluded, “Cannabis as a palliative treatment for cancer patients seems to be well tolerated, effective and safe option to help patients cope with the malignancy-related symptoms.”
The efficacy of cannabis for these symptoms is documented and the evidence grows. Research has shown that the active components of cannabis are effective for pain, sleeplessness, nausea and vomiting, among others.
Although cautious in their messaging even the National Cancer Institute has admitted, “Cannabinoids may have benefits in the treatment of cancer-related side effects.” The American Cancer Society has published on their website that, “Studies have long shown that people who took marijuana extracts in clinical trials tended to need less pain medicine.”
The FDA has still not approved marijuana as a safe and effective drug for any indication but seems to believe that synthetic versions are acceptable, as evidenced by their approval of a handful of lab-created cannabinoid knockoffs.
As more patients have the opportunity to try cannabis products, we may expect more of the same type of positive reaction. Many who are in need of relief will not wait for government agencies and official organizations to get on board, not in the age of social media and patients sharing their success stories.
Studies like this one from European researchers will undoubtedly create interest, more opportunity for funding and, ultimately, more information. Because if we know one thing about cannabis, its skeptics must be deluged with data before they will budge.
We can stop making jokes about the elderly smoking cannabis to get high, when in fact, they might be really trying to relieve symptoms of glaucoma. The disease affects women and Asians at a higher rate, causing blindness because of retina and optic nerve deterioration caused by Intraocular Pressure (IOP) of the eye.
There have been hundreds of pieces of anecdotal evidence citing cannabis’ power to treat glaucoma, but the truth is in the science. Studies have been conducted since the early ’70s and they all seem to point to cannabis as an effective source of alleviating glaucoma symptoms.
A 1971 study called Marihuana Smoking and Intraocular Pressure concluded that cannabis is a good addition for treatment where other medications fall short. The study reported that cannabis users suffering from glaucoma saw their IOP drop by 25-30 percent. Although relief only lasted for about four hours, it is safe to say that the cannabis was effective.
In another study from 1975, researchers noted that cannabis users who smoked a significant amount of cannabis with THC (the chemical responsible for the high), saw a reduction in IOP as well, although they didn’t note patients experienced levels of psychoactive effects.
At the start of millennium, scientists observed the effects of synthetic forms of cannabis on reducing pressure. They administered HU-211, a synthetic non-psychoactive form of cannabinoid to one of eye rabbits and noted that the synthetic was able to decrease intraocular pressure. The drug took about 90 minutes to kick and relief lasted for more than six hours.
In another study from 1975, researchers noted that cannabis users who smoked a significant amount of cannabis with THC (the chemical responsible for the high), saw a reduction in IOP as well, although they didn’t note patients experienced levels of psychoactive effects.
Most recently, a study from this year concluded what cannabis users have always seemed to know, “Marijuana is an effective ocular hypotensive agent.” In other words, cannabis has the power to lower blood pressure in the eyes, which should come as a huge relief to the 200,000 people seeking treatment.
They’re popular mantras in the cannabis community: “There have been no overdoses on marijuana,” and “You can’t overdose on marijuana.” On the other side of the fence, there are handfuls of people left who were taught their entire lives that cannabis is a dangerous drug and can indeed lead one to overdose. The truth does not lie in the middle, the truth is that cannabis is simply not toxic, even in high doses.
Our bodies are absolutely saturated in cannabinoid receptors. Naturopathic medicine practitioner Dr. Dustin Sulak explains the receptors as thus, “The endogenous cannabinoid system, named after the plant that led to its discovery, is perhaps the most important physiologic system involved in establishing and maintaining human health. In each tissue, the cannabinoid system performs different tasks… But the goal is always the same: homeostasis, the maintenance of a stable internal environment despite fluctuations in the external environment.”
So in other words, cannabis is doing good things to your body beyond heightened sensations, enhanced tastes and activities and generally easing hundreds if not thousands of ailments. Cannabinoids have been shown to attack certain cancer cells and aging cells that can lead to cancer and other diseases. These important attacks are where the “killing brain cells” myth came from.
There are risks to one’s health that come with cannabis, but they aren’t from the plant itself. If pot is not properly flushed of chemicals, pesticides or nutrients it poses a threat in that way. There is also the chance that a grower allowed for a crop with powdery mildew or mold to make its way out of the grow area. When patients are sick, these types of irritants can exacerbate conditions, especially those of the lungs.
Willie Nelson once said, “[Cannabis] won’t kill you unless you let a bale of it fall on you.” Bill Murray Tweeted in June 2014, “I find it quite ironic that the most dangerous thing about weed is getting caught with it.” Their fame doesn’t make them right, but facts do. No one has ever died of a cannabis overdose.
Another factor to this point is that one of the most psychoactive components of cannabis, THC, produces pregnenolone when stimulated by high dosages of the plant. This substance actually inhibits THC, thus protecting the individual from a scary experience, let alone a life threatening one.
Not only is cannabis non-toxic, it is a healing herb with so much medical value that 30 states plus the District of Columbia have deemed it “medical marijuana.” Medical, recreational or somewhere inbetween, it’s time for the facts to not only come out of the grow closet, but to be explained in ways that those unfamiliar with the plant can understand that it is simply safe.
Netflix, like all cool services and fast-food restaurants, has its hacks and secret menus that are revealed only to their most devoted followers. Luckily, several websites have discovered and published all of Netflix’s hidden codes — a myth that’s been circulating the web for a while — organizing them neatly onto lists and making it easy for millions of viewers to find all sorts of genres without having to scroll through endless content.
Normally, if you’re feeling like watching a comedy you’d have to scroll through Netflix’s comedy tab, which shows seemingly random suggestions that can range from Disney’s Frozen, to weird movies that are clearly not comedies. Netflix has a really weird way of organizing their content and finding an interesting movie can sometimes feel like an impossible task.
With these codes, that’s a thing of the past, allowing you be as specific as you want to be. Netflixcodes.me, allows you to look through different genres, which are much more varied than “Comedy” and “Drama.” You can even type in what you feel like watching on their search bar. Aliens? Vampires? Dogs? Sure thing.
The code for Comedies is ‘6548’, so you’d have to add those numbers onto the end of your Netflix URL, like so: www.netflix.com/browse/genre/6548. Sadly, you can only use these codes on a laptop.
There are tons of different codes, ranging from obscure topics such as Werewolf Horror Movies (75930) to genres you didn’t even know you needed, like Satanic Stories (6998). You can check out the full list of codes here.
The pornography website PornHub released a study showing which is quite surprise. Data shows women look at porn on their phones more than men. The surprise discovery is based on research from the top adult entertainment website Pornhub.
In February, almost 80 percent of women who visited the site did so via a mobile device, while just 69 (heh) percent of men did. The study also shows that the younger you are, the more likely you are to watch porn on your phone or tablet: 78 percent of millennials (18 to 34-year olds) got their virtual needs met on a mobile device while just 51 percent of people over 65 were.
No matter what the age group, though, women used mobile device more often by an average of 10 percent.
Porn has been around for thousands of years with the oldest artifacts considered pornographic were discovered in Germany in 2008 CE and are dated to be at least 35,000 years old.[b] Throughout the history of erotic depictions, various people made attempts to suppress them under obscenity laws, censor, or make them illegal. Such grounds and even the definition of pornography have differed in various historical, cultural, and national contexts. The Indian Sanskrit text Kama Sutra (3rd century CE) contained prose, poetry, and illustrations regarding sexual behavior, and the book was celebrated; while the British English text Fanny Hill (1748), considered “the first original English prose pornography,” has been one of the most prosecuted and banned books. In the late 19th century, a film by Thomas Edison that depicted a kiss was denounced as obscene in the United States, whereas Eugène Pirou‘s 1896 film Bedtime for the Bride was received very favorably in France.
The western coastline of North America is so close to being entirely recreationally legal ever since California shifted its marijuana policies on January 1st of this year. Now that the everyday person visiting California can buy its legendary array of cannabis products, all bets are off.
When heading to the West, make sure to have a current government issued photo ID on hand, and a photo of the front and the back if you plan to use a delivery service. In some cities, the flow of recreational permits has been extremely slow, so it’s trickier to find shops that will take out of state customers right now in the beginning of the process. Weedmaps is helpful to a degree, but finding smaller collectives to patronize is just a few clicks and a phone call away. Some are willing to sell to you, but not willing to advertise that on the internet. A little patience and some sleuthing goes far.
Premium Pre-Rolls
Photos by Maria Penaloza
Pre-rolls aren’t always the greatest, but when they’re spot on, life is sweet and convenient. Chuuuch, the cannabis brand developed by legendary pimp and Snoop Dogg’s spiritual adviser, Bishop Don Magic Juan, is nailing classy branding that is more than eye popping colors and textures: the smoke is primo as well.
Photos by Maria Penaloza
Three giant pre-rolls come in a pack, and though price varies from shop to shop, you know it’s a deal when they’re too big for even the biggest head to finish alone. When you want to deploy the ease and style of pre-rolls, buying from one of the biggest cannabis advocates for literal decades is a way smarter and more satisfying move than any random shop’s shake cones!
Indie Edibles
Photos by Maria Penaloza
Before the world of cannabis becomes fully standardized, patronizing independent shops is your best bet to sample the OG spirit of California cannabis.
Photos by Maria Penaloza
Fruit Slabs are for the healthy set, as fresh fruits and organic oils turn into the fruit leathers of childhood, but amped up with 100mg of THC and fully vegan. I tried both the Mango Maui Wowie and the Tropical Haze and they were as tasty as something that potent can be. A tiny strip was enough to kick period pain to the curb, which is all I can want out of an edible.
Photos by Maria Penaloza
K-Town Collective’s Edibles ’R’ Us is the snack mecca of Melrose in Los Angeles. Everything from Flamin’ Hot cheese curls to cereals and candies are souped up and duped to look like regular food.
Photos by Maria Penaloza
The treats are not only insanely tasty as junk food is known to be, they are dosed at various levels to give you lots of options. Feeling chill? Pop one 3mg Sour Gummy from a 60mg bag. If you’re wanting to be extra, down the whole 60mg bag of cheese-os, and go to space. The snack world is your weed oyster.
Notable Vapes
Photos by Maria Penaloza
Vapes are arguably the most common method of cannabis consumption you see around SoCal, so it’s no surprise that there are literally dozens of companies injecting their concentrates into cartridges. Here’s some of the most unique ones we tried:
Treebase Klear is making a new category of vape cartridge with a special twist: the clear concentrate that maintains superior flavor and strain likeness. The Gelato Cart is pure divinity, and indica heavy Mendo Breath is the best nighttime vape I’ve ever used.
Photos by Maria Penaloza
The W Vape is a sleek and small vape pen that holds full 1000mg cartridges, which is a bit harder to find in other models. Their branded and proprietary cartridges are single-strain and color coded for indica, sativa, or hybrid, which makes quick buying so much easier.
Photos by Maria Penaloza
The Pax Era has gotta be the classiest vape pen around right now. It’s small and discreet, and it’s no small help that it looks almost identical to their tobacco model, the Juul, which has converted smokers as much as when e-cigarettes first dropped. The concentrate producers fill their own Era brand empty cartridges, and it’s pure synergy. Brands that want to ride the wave have gotten on board, and the Jetty Extracts Girl Scout Cookies and Legion of Bloom the Terrapen were two amazing choices of the dozens of premium options. K-Town Collective is the spot to try for the most Pax Era options in LA.
Topicals
Photos by Maria Penaloza
This category is getting more attention, which is overdue in my humble opinion. Topicals are essential to pain management with cannabis, especially in the case of soreness and chronic pain. Finally becoming more than just mystery creams, brands are taking different approaches to topicals.
Photos by Maria Penaloza
A liquid oil roll-on formula, Legion of Bloom’s Zana Ayurveda + CBD is a nice choice for acute pain and general soreness. Loaded with a long list of cooperative essential oils, Zana provides a unique approach to the CBD topical. It’s free of THC so there’s no buzz, just a few notches knocked off the pain scale.
Using a very different blend of EO’s Loki Lotion uses a THC/CBD balance to go after the bad stuff. I find this to be really something for tension and severe pain, the THC seems to help for longer especially when paired with CBD. Loki Lotion comes in a jar and has a salve-like texture that sinks into skin, so there’s no greasy aftermath if you apply the right amount.
Photos by Maria Penaloza
Now that the floodgates are open, choosing the good stuff doesn’t have to be as tricky as it seems when you’re in the dispensary. Doing your research and reading reviews before heading in to purchase is the best way to tackle the sheer and glorious variety of it all. Navigating the best of legal California is more than what’s on sale or popular, it’s about your needs and wants first.
With marijuana becoming more accepted throughout the states, all sorts of companies are looking for fresh ideas and products that are worth our time and attention. With so much variety out there, it can get a bit challenging to find the cannabis products that you really want, and that satisfy your needs.
The following products were developed with a focus on CBD, producing relaxing and calming effects that won’t affect your brain and that can be consumed during the daytime, before going to work, or doing an activity that demands concentration. Check out these 5 amazing CBD products:
Marijuana legend Tommy Chong came up with this premium brand of CBD products that feature 100% natural hemp and only the best ingredients. The brand features a wide variety of products, including gummies, oils, and more for the experienced CBD user. Chong’s Choice also has THC products, so no matter your cravings you’ll always be satisfied.
This beer contains a combination of hemp oil, terpenes, IPA, and American pale ale. Known as the Medicator, the beer was made by the contributions of two Vermont companies, Long Trail and Luce Farm. The beer has a distinct hemp flavor and it produces a relaxing effect. You can purchase it in Vermont.
CBD offers tons of perks for your skin, so it makes sense that someone thought that it’d be a good idea to make a shampoo with it. By keeping your scalp healthy and your hair clean and beautiful, this shampoo is unlike anything else on the market, and it has ranked amongst the best products since it came out.
The NBA legend has always been open about his support regarding marijuana, and now, he recently announced that his plans for 2018 include releasing a brand of CBD pain relieving products for all sorts of athletes, from professionals to amateurs.
There are so many rumors surrounding Apple that users and long-term fans of the company are getting nervous. It’s understandable. With so many technological developments, people are starting to wonder if this is the end of the iPhone era, or if Apple will adapt and change to remain relevant in today’s technological landscape.
It’s been a tough, or more appropriately, different year for Apple. Fortune reports the company has been shipping fewer iPhones, that it’ll stop production of the iPhone X due to poor sales and disappointing performance, and that its sales have slipped one percent year over year.
GBH Insights analyst Daniel Ives believes that Apple is doing just fine, and that the iPhone is alive and well. He believes the company’s plans of launching three new devices this year will help them earn back the money and customers they’ve lost.
Another interesting thing Ives predicts is the improvement of Apple Services business, which includes the App Store, Apple Pay, and Apple Music. The company has been investing money on these technologies, and Ives believes that this will pay off and take their business to new heights. If his speculations are true, in the following three to six months Apple will hit the $1 trillion market cap.
Right or wrong, we’re in for some changes when it comes to Apple and the way in which they conduct their business. Maybe in today’s world it’s not enough to develop the world’s leading smartphone.
Democrat Benjamin Thomas Wolf, campaigning in the primary to carry the … er … torch for his party in the November election, isn’t hiding his pro-marijuana views. Visitors to his campaign website first see him using in front of a painting of the American Flag. Smoke circles him.
No need for a position paper. You can tweet the only message under the image: “Legalize cannabis. Vote March 20th #WolfForCongress #CannabisCandidate.”
“As a cannabis user, I think it’s important we get out front and talk about it,” Wolf told the Chicago Sun-Times. “We realize that cannabis can bring billions of dollars to the state, it’s medicine for millions of people around the country, it changes criminal justice reform and personally I think it’s a wonderful recreational substance as well.”
Deeper into his website he is equally blunt about his position on cannabis, calling for “The immediate legalization of marijuana and hemp for both medicinal and recreational uses in all U.S. states, cities, and territories. This will bring billions of dollars in tax revenue and allow major reform in our criminal justice system.”
Three other candidates, including incumbent Rep. Mike Quigley, are running in the primary for the state’s 5th Congressional District.
Wolf also supports bringing back a federal assault weapons ban. In a video on the site, he holds an AR-15 for effect. The weapon is illegal in Chicago. He told the Sun-Times it was a friend’s.
The joint, however, he says,“That’s mine, we had a poker night with our campaign staff and I think that was left behind.”
Wolf is a political newbie, as far as electoral races go. But he has experience in D.C. working for the FBI and State Department.
The district is used to handling big personalities. Though Quigley hasn’t made much news, current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel held the seat from 2002 to 2009, leaving to become White House Chief of Staff in the Obama administration. Before that Rod Blagojevich, who went on to become Illinois’ governor before his 2009 corruption charges eventually sent him to federal prison in 2012. Except for two single-term Republicans, the district has sent Democrats to D.C. since 1900.
You would be hard pressed to identify Charlize Theron as a former marijuana enthusiast. The actress, who in films like Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde, portrays characters of the no-nonsense, badass superwoman variety doesn’t seem like a reformed hippie is all we’re saying.
But in an exclusive interview with E! news, Theron admits to having a serious history with weed.
“I was a wake-and-baker for most of my life,” she told E!’s Sibley Scoles.
When pressed to remember her first time smoking, Theron went long on her previous relationship with the green.
“Yeah, I was older. I didn’t really mess around with anything until I was much older,” Theron said. “But I really appreciated marijuana way more than alcohol or anything else. My chemistry was really good with it when I was younger and then it just changed one day. Like, in my early thirties I just became boring on it and I would just stand in front of my fridge, so that’s no good.”
Theron admits to not knowing what changed in her response to marijuana. Maybe she was consuming heavy indica strains for the first time and didn’t know it. Regardless, Theron knew she needed a break. But she has considered exploring marijuana once again to assist with sleeping properly.
“I’m open to retrying it again because now there’s all these different strains and you can be specific with it,” she said. “And I’m actually really interested because I have really bad insomnia, and I’d much rather get off sleeping pills and figure out a strain that helps me sleep better. So when I have a moment, I’m actually doing that with my mom. My mom has really bad sleep too.”
