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The Fresh Toast Marijuana Legislative Roundup: Dec. 18

As the year winds down, many states continue to hammer out new cannabis regulations. California is just days away from legal retail sales of marijuana. Massachusetts may allow cannabis lounges for social consumption. The city of Denver is also making inroads into the on-premise consumption of cannabis. Read all about these developments and more in The Fresh Toast’s Marijuana Legislative Roundup for Dec. 18.

California: 

On Thursday, California issued its first 20 temporary licenses for businesses to operate in the state’s new recreational cannabis industry when sales begin on January 1. The licensees included distributors, retailers, and some medical marijuana businesses, who will be regulated similarly to recreational businesses under California law starting next year. With time running short before the January 1 start of recreational sales, few counties and municipalities have begun issuing permits for recreational marijuana businesses.

Under California law, retailers are required to obtain local permits before they are eligible for state licenses and many local authorities have yet to enact the necessary regulations for retailers to apply for permits. With the holidays drawing near, it appears that few recreational marijuana retailers will be open for business on January 1. The state began accepting license applications the prior week.  

 Massachusetts: 

In meetings last week, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission approved preliminary rules allowing cannabis consumption lounges, in addition to the sale of marijuana products at restaurants, movie theaters, yoga studios, and some other businesses. Businesses granted these “mixed-use” licenses could only offer single-serving portions of cannabis, which would have to be consumed on the premises. The Commission hopes to publish detailed draft rules by December 29 and enact final regulations by March 15. Recreational sales are set to begin in Massachusetts on July 1.   

 Illinois: 

On Wednesday, Cook County Commissioners voted unanimously to put an advisory referendum to legalize cannabis on the ballot for the March 15 primary elections. Voters will be asked whether the state should legalize “the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products for recreational use by adults 21 and older.” Such non-binding questions are often used by lawmakers to gauge public support on an issue before taking legislative action.  

 Colorado: 

Last week, the city of Denver received its first marijuana social-use application from a business seeking to allow vaping and edible consumption on its premises. The application comes more than a year after Denver voters approved a pilot program for marijuana consumption lounges in the city. However, the rules are so restrictive that there has been little interest so far.

The ballot measure requires applicants to obtain backing from a registered neighborhood organization and comply with Colorado’s indoor smoking ban. Marijuana growers and retailers in the city will not be eligible to apply, and cannabis cannot be sold on the premises. The regulations closely mirror those already in place for liquor and cannabis retailers.  

 Nevada: 

On Wednesday, the Las Vegas City Council held a public meeting on a draft regulation allowing cannabis consumption lounges in the city. The rules would allow marijuana to be smoked or otherwise consumed but not sold in licensed lounges. The businesses would be allowed to obtain separate licenses to sell paraphernalia, merchandise, and possibly food. Officials will next address the issue at a meeting on January 2.   

10 Types Of Marijuana That Work In The Battle Against Depression

Depression is a serious illness that impairs millions of people and that doesn’t have a simple and clear-cut cure. While cannabis can’t completely cure depression, it’s still one of the best options for providing natural relief in patients that are struggling and that don’t find help with other pharmaceutical options. Marijuana has proven to counteract stress in users while helping them prevent depression, and we are here to help you learn to use it.

Know that there are multiple ways to consume marijuana, you can eat or drink it, rub it into your skin, vape, smoke and much more. Ask the budtenders at your local dispensary which products have the strains listed and then pick how you want to put it into your body.

Need help finding a dispensary? We got you. Just visit our directory.

Here we present to you, 10 types of marijuana that will surely bring some relief over depression and its accompanying symptoms: 

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Velvet Bud

This velvety strain will produce a smooth smoke that’s fruity and delicious to inhale. It’s also perfect for combating stress, anxiety and depression.

Ape Shit

This type of marijuana is the result of a cross of three high end cannabis strains, resulting in an amazing and powerful herb that affects your body and your brain in equal parts. It also works wonders for getting rid of anxiety and depression.

Blue Wonder

This California strain is a sativa-dominant hybrid that energizes your brain while giving your body a buzz. It will also give you a feeling of euphoria, perfect for battling depression and anxiety.

Fruity Window

This is the perfect strain to consume during the day, invigorating you and providing motivation to take on the day’s challenges, boosting up your creativity and fighting any inkling of depression.

Juliet

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This sweet smelling type of marijuana is great for social activities giving you a burst of comfortable confidence. Juliet will also induce a happy and calm high that’s an ideal remedy for those who are suffering from mood or stress disorders.

Lemon Skunk

Perfect for helping you get out of your funk, Lemon Skunk is smelly, delicious and an expert at battling stress and depression.

Diamond Valley Kush

This indica-dominant hybrid is extremely powerful so newbies be warned. Its perfect for cleansing your brain out any depression or anxiety.

White Elephant

This potent indica-dominant hybrid has a sweet smell and flavor and provides a relaxing yet uplifting high. Its combined flavors of cherry and grape also make it delicious to consume.

Shaman

This sativa-dominant strain is smelly and delicious, commonly used by chronic pain patients and those who need help from anxiety and depression.

Alice In Wonderland

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This strain doesn’t misuse its trippy name, providing euphoric cerebral effects that are perfect for spurring on your creativity, doing fun outdoor activities or simply spicing up your at home activities. Alice also comes with her own set of therapeutic qualities, providing relief for anxiety and depression.

Gossip: Walmart And Target To Drop Mario Batali Products; Beyoncé Planning Epic Destiny’s Child Reunion

Walmart and Target have announced plans to drop Mario Batali-branded products from stores following accusations of sexual harassment against the celebrity chef.

“The recent sexual misconduct allegations against Mario Batali are unacceptable,” said Walmart in a statement obtained by Fox News. “We’re ending our relationship with Batali and will discontinue our business with his brand.” Batali was officially fired from his show “The Chew” this week.

ABC fires Mario Batali from ‘The Chew” following sexual misconduct allegations

ABC has parted ways with celebrity chef Mario Batali, who will no longer be part of the network’s daytime show “The Chew” following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Batali has been off the show since Monday after allegations were published on the website Eater New York. Four women, three of whom worked for Batali, said he inappropriately touched them.

“Upon completing its review into the allegations made against Mario Batali, ABC has terminated its relationship with him and he will no longer appear on ‘The Chew,’” the network said. “While we remain unaware of any type of inappropriate behavior involving him and anyone affiliated with our show, ABC takes matters like this very seriously as we are committed to a safe work environment and his past behavior violates our standards of conduct.”

Batali did not deny the allegations, saying in a statement that “although the identities of most of the individuals mentioned in these stories have not been revealed to me, much of the behavior described does, in fact, match up with ways I have acted.”

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“That behavior was wrong and there are no excuses,” he said. “I take full responsibility and am deeply sorry for any pain, humiliation or discomfort I have caused to my peers, employees, customers, friends and family.”

Batali has stepped back from the day-to-day operation of his culinary empire, which includes dozens of restaurants. He is a minority shareholder in Eataly USA, which has locations in New York, Chicago and Boston and opened its fourth location last month at Westfield Century City mall. He is also co-owner of the Mozza restaurants in Los Angeles and Newport Beach.

He had been on “The Chew” since 2011.

Beyoncé Planning Epic Destiny’s Child Reunion

Word on the street is that Beyoncé might be planning an epic reunion with the ladies of Destiny’s child at Coachella. The music superstar is the headliner this year and there are a lot of clues pointing to a reunion!

MORE BEYONCE NEWS:
James Corden Explains How He Almost Named His Baby Beyoncé

James Corden and his wife, Julia Carey, welcomed their third child ― a girl ― earlier this week.

The “Late Late Show” host revealed Thursday that because the baby was born a few weeks before her due date, he and his wife didn’t have a name picked out ― though he said he did get close to accidentally naming his daughter Beyoncé.

“After the baby was born — anyone who’s been in this situation will know — we were both crying, I was crying my eyes out, my wife’s crying her eyes out, the baby’s crying and the doctor asked about her name … and I looked at the doctor and said, ‘We’re going to call her Beyoncé,’” Corden said.

“My wife did not think that was funny,” he added. “Especially after the nurse went to the other side of the room and started filling out her form with the name Beyoncé and I had to go over to her and say, ‘There’s only one Beyoncé.’”

Corden said he and his wife still haven’t picked out a name, but they’re “so happy.”

“We feel so blessed and so lucky. I feel so lucky just to be here telling you about it, I really, really do,” the host said. “And if anyone out there is wondering what to get me for Christmas, a vasectomy would be wonderful. I think we’re done now!”

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Here Are The 3 States Likely To Legalize Marijuana In 2018

Next year is poised to be another banner year for cannabis legalization. Think back to 2016, which was a phenomenal year for legalization, with California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada voting in marijuana; 2018 looks to be just as exciting.

Here are three states at the ready to legalize in 2018:

First up we have Michigan, which will likely have a ballot vote rather than legislation. If there wasn’t to be a ballot vote, legislation would likely pass, however, signature gathering is already completed and the petition turned in for a legalization vote. We have the Michigan Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol to thank for that.

The votes are likely to be there awaiting the ballot measure. Latest polling shows Michigan residents at 58 percent in favor of cannabis legalization. A number that has been on the rise for years now. They will still need to advertise, but MPP and some investors seem to have it covered.

Next up is the Garden State, New Jersey. The least popular governor in the history of the US, Chris Christie is finally leaving office and New Jerseyites voted in Governor Elect Phil Murphy to replace him. While Christie seemed to do everything he could to make the medical marijuana program as difficult to navigate as possible, Murphy campaigned on the platform that he would legalize recreational cannabis in his first 100 days in office.

There is the chance that the legislation could be shot down at the state house, however, the latest polling in New Jersey shows 59 percent approval of the plant, so let’s hope lawmakers listen to their community.

Vermont seems like it should already be legal and selling medicated Ben & Jerry’s at the corner stores, but they’re not there yet. Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a bill after getting nervous about drugged driving and teen use. Even after the bill was amended to address the concerns, the House voted it down.

The measure is still alive and kicking though, and Gov. Scott says that he will sign it this legislative round. The bill is expected to pass in early January 2018, which would make Vermont the first state to legalize via legislation alone.

How Marijuana Saved Me From Opioid Addiction

Pamela Hadfield suffered from withering migraine attacks for most of her life. In her late 30s, when the severity of her migraines increased, she was prescribed Vicodin, the highly addictive resident in many of our medicine chests. Pamela used Vicodin but with trepidation. She went to work and kept her life going, but she had become a highly functional opioid addict.

When she was introduced to cannabis, she was skeptical. She thought, like so many naïve patients, that MMJ was a joke. But with no other choice, she did some research and visited a dispensary in San Francisco, where she lived. After months of experimentation, she found the right cannabis dose and formula that broke the yoke of her addiction. It’s three years later, and Pamela hasn’t had a migraine since. “Cannabis is the only thing that stopped the headaches,” she told me. It also altered the course of her working life.

Today, Pamela is the co-founder of Hello MD, a California-based telemedicine service that connects patients interested in medical cannabis with doctors. Along the way, Pamela has become an advocate for educating patients about using cannabis to overcome opioid dependence.

Opioids (the category includes Codeine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone, OxyContin, Tramadol, Demerol, Norco, Lorcet, methadone) are killing 91 Americans per day. That is criminal. It’s even more unacceptable in light of the fact that there are dozens of recent studies indicating that cannabis can not only stop the addiction, but can also stop the pain, in most cases, more effectively than these opioids.

In one recent observational study Hello MD conducted with University of California, Berkeley, 91 percent of patients said that cannabis helped them reduce their dependence on opioids (That’s a sky-high number — most studies report 50-60 percent). Eighty one percent said that cannabis was more effective than opioids for chronic pain, which is defined as pain that continues for over 90 days. This is interesting — opioids work best with acute pain — they offer great relief for the first few days. But after that, they lose efficacy and can actually exacerbate the pain. After a week of opioid use, you have a 25 percent chance of becoming addict.

Combine that with the fact that death rates from opioids are 25 percent lower in legal medical marijuana states and you have compelling evidence that cannabis –even as an adjunct to opioids–could be a viable solution to helping patients reduce pain and reclaim their lives without fear of addiction.

Why isn’t the federal government using this information to help its people? You may think you know the answer (No, it’s not all Trump’s fault), but tune in to learn more.

The Startling Health Effects Of Mixing Tobacco And Marijuana

Europe may seem like an increasingly divided continent, but there is one thing that unites its people: an obsession with using tobacco to smoke cannabis. Up to 90 percent of Europeans combine tobacco with cannabis, according to the latest Global Drug Survey. By comparison, only 8 percent of Americans smoke cannabis this way. The Conversation

Cannabis is illegal in many European countries – and it has known harms, but the reality is that many people use the drug anyway. Consequently, policy needs to reflect this reality.

For many Europeans, cannabis is a gateway drug to tobacco as many people are first exposed to tobacco when they smoke their first joint, a phenomenon referred to as the reverse gateway effect.

Smoking (combusting) anything is bad for your lungs. Smoking changes the properties of a substance, often forming toxic and carcinogenic compounds. For cannabis this includes brain changes that are thought to impair cognitive functioning, particularly in adolescents. And the harmful effects of smoking tobacco are well known. More than 8m people die each year as a result of smoking tobacco – mostly from cancer and cardiovascular disease.

But you don’t have to smoke cannabis with tobacco to enjoy the benefits. Alternatives to smoking cannabis include eating it – sometimes referred to as edibles – and inhaling via a vaporizer, pipe or bong.

Global Drug Survey

Joints Are Not The Only Way

Countries such as the U.S. and Canada have a cultural disdain for combining tobacco with cannabis. Sweeping regulatory reforms, commercialism and a diversity of concentrated cannabis products have lent themselves to a gradual move to vaping.

There is now sufficient evidence to promote vaping as an healthier alternative method for cannabis. Vaping devices contain an element that heats the cannabis (bud or oil) to a temperature that turns the active ingredients, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), into a vapor, but without burning it. Smokers need to take smaller and fewer hits to get the high than joint smokers.

Global Drug Survey

In countries where smoking joints is the norm, we need to focus on harnessing the success of anti-tobacco smoking campaigns to help people who like smoking cannabis to do so without tobacco.

Framing drug use as a health issue, rather than a criminal justice issue, is key. Apart from the moral arguments supporting such a shift there are clear economic gains. In the UK, research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats shows that it costs the taxpayer £2,256  ($2,922) for the police to deal with each case of cannabis use. An estimated £67m ($86.8 million) – spent treating tobacco-related health problems – could also be saved if the next generation of tokers grows up tobacco free.

Legalization May Not Cut Tobacco Use

Before people start calling for law reform, legalising cannabis won’t necessarily be the solution to the issue either. The Netherlands has one of the highest rates of smoking with tobacco in the world, despite a more tolerant approach to drug use.

Changing cultural consumption norms of any substance is difficult. Many people in the UK still binge drink despite not having to be out of the pub at 11pm. Change requires governments to respect the choices individuals make. People who smoke cannabis should be offered practical advice on how to get high without smoking tobacco, rather than be legislated against. The government might also want to consider repealing the law that bans the sale of dry herb vaporizers. Changing norms may take a while, but this would be a good start.

Governments have a duty to protect people. Denying or ignoring the health risks this group face helps no one.

This article was originally written by Ian Hamilton and Adam Winstock and published on The Conversation. Read the original article

The Essential Link Between Marijuana And Schizophrenia

The medicinal value of cannabis is a highly contested subject—perhaps there is no more of a controversial topic in modern day medicine. Looking at cannabis as a whole, there are various chemical compounds in the plant with medicinal value, namely THC and CBD. Furthermore, medical marijuana patients utilize the medicine in aid of both physical and psychological disorders. Possibly, this is the crux of the medical marijuana debate: the notion that there are different chemical compounds within marijuana, which have interactions with different elements of the body and the psyche—with largely subjective results. As real clinical research on cannabis is just beginning to hit the mainstream, the hope is that test results will help categorize specific strains and ailments in a comprehensive, objective fashion.

Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder which is highly contested in relation to medical cannabis. This is because, laboratory studies show that THC use can actually increase the risk of contracting schizophrenia for individuals genetically pre-disposed to the disease. However, studies also show that CBD can be very useful in subduing the “psychotic symptoms” of schizophrenics. While it may appear that these two findings are at odds, they are not. They really exemplify the need for more quantifiable exploration into the pitfalls and benefits of cannabis as a legitimate medicine—focusing on objective analyses into chemical compositions of specific marijuana strains. Once a licensed medicinal practitioner can say with certainty what a cannabis strain contains chemically (CBD, THC, etc.), they can confidently prescribe it to individuals such as schizophrenics. That being said, here is a brief overview of the positive benefits of isolated CBD for schizophrenia patients:

Schizophrenia And CBD

Scientists feel that schizophrenia is genetically produced mental disorder resulting from chemical imbalances within brain functions. These same studies show that schizophrenia lies dormant until “triggered by a genetic interaction with environmental factors”. The psychological symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, hallucinations, and abrupt emotional changes. While there is no cure for schizophrenia, modern medicine generally uses powerful prescription drugs wrought with side effects to curb the disease’s debilitating symptoms. Natural CBD isolated from cannabis flowers offers a less obtrusive relief for schizophrenia patients than that of prescription medicines.

Medical experts believe that schizophrenia as a psychological disorder is the result of imbalances in dopamine and serotonin “signaling” within the brain. These imbalances result in the delusory nature of schizophrenic outbursts as well as anti-social behavior indicative of the disease. Along this line of thought, studies show that the sedative like psychological effects of CBD help quell hallucinations in schizophrenics—without the side effects of powerful prescription medicines like valium. Furthermore, studies display that continued, daily use of CBD by schizophrenics can help aid in the overall clinical condition of their psyches. This study is noteworthy as it shows that CBD can offer more to schizophrenics than just relief from symptoms, it can actually help stop outbursts from occurring at all.

‘Harry Potter’ Author Shares How She Created Hogwarts House Names

J.K. Rowling refuses to stop tweeting about Harry Potter. To which we say: let her. It’s her right as the author of the most consuming literary franchise of the 21st century, sprawling from books into video games, films, online communities, theme parks, plays and more.

So learning just where and how the original inspiration sprung from Rowling’s mind remains fascinating. (However, her re-writing certain character’s fates, like suddenly deciding Albus Dumbledore was gay and that Harry and Hermione should’ve ended up together, isn’t so interesting.) Following an online conversation about the fallacies of writer’s best practices and rules for good writing, Rowling jumped in, agreeing that each writer has her own methodology.

Rowling did course-correct, admitting that she does engage in one writerly tradition: Wherever she goes, she carries a notebook around. Whenever inspiration strikes, she wants to jot it down.

Her fans responded to the author, sharing the various things they’ve written on over the years. (Personal note: I once asked a waitress at a traditional Thai restaurant for pen and paper, as random ideas were flowing through my brain.) One fan said she once wrote on spare napkins in her purse at a birthday party when inspiration struck.

This propelled Rowling to respond with her own anecdote. She admitted to once writing the names of the famous Hogwarts houses—Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw—on an airplane’s sick bag.

Just imagine how much that barf bag is worth now? One user had a witty response, saying one house’s name make sense if it was writing on the back of an airplane sick bag.

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CBD Has No Health Risks Claims World Health Organization

The world’s premier health agency this week declared that one of the main compounds found in marijuana presents no health risks. The World Health Organization also announced that cannabidiol (CBD) holds promise as a potential treatment for various ailments, including psychosis.

The U.N. health agency’s report is in direct conflict with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which claims CBD, a non-psychoactive ingredient is a Schedule I drug. The federal government’s scheduling means that CBD has no accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse.

“In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential,” according to the report. “CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.”

The WHO report also revealed that CBD has “been demonstrated as an effective treatment for epilepsy,” and that there exists “preliminary evidence that CBD may be a useful treatment for a number of other medical conditions,” including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and psychosis.

According to the report, “current information does not justify scheduling of cannabidiol,” and it found that using medical marijuana will not lead to addiction to THC, marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient that induces intoxication.

Despite clear evidence of the medical value of CBD, the DEA last year doubled-down on its position that CBD should remain under the Schedule I classification. The DEA made the point clear by creating a new drug code for marijuana extracts, including pure CBD.

The World Health Organization is in the process of considering whether to place CBD within the agency’s international drug scheduling code. The WHO committee will take a more extensive investigation into the efficacy of CBD next spring.

You can read the full report here.

 

Lead Photo by: Vaping360.com

Colorado Politician Fighting For Marijuana As A Solution To Opioid Crisis

Colorado Congressman Jared Polis, who is surrendering his seat in the House to run for governor, continued his long fight for sensible marijuana law reform this week. He announced his intention to prevent federal agencies from interfering with state law.

“I will push back on any federal effort to interfere with our laws and not share information if it’s not related to a criminal investigation under our own law or ordered by a court,” Polis said on Monday. “The federal government has very limited law enforcement resources in the states, most of law enforcement is in the hands of cities, counties, and the state and so as long as we don’t cooperate it would be hard, almost impossible, for there to be a major federal-only enforcement action.”

Later in the week, Polis sent a letter to Eric D. Hargan, acting secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, asking the agency to investigate cannabis as an alternative treatment to opioids for pain. The letter reads:

Recent studies published by qualified academic researchers suggest that marijuana may prove to be a useful alternative treatment for chronic pain instead of harmful, addictive prescription opioids, and that marijuana may reduce the overall number of opioid overdose deaths.

  • Related Story: DEA Regulation Of Medical Marijuana After FDA Approval Is Scary

  • A 2014 JAMA International Medicine study analyzed all 50 states and found that those with medical marijuana law had 25% fewer fatal opioid overdoses than states that had no such laws between 1999 and 2010.
  • A HealthAffairs study published last year looked at Medicare Part D prescribing data and found that with the implementation of state medical marijuana laws, among prescriptions for pain there was a reduction of o1,826 daily doses filled per prescriber per year. This same study also found that due to implemented medical marijuana laws, Medicare Part D savings were over $165 million among seventeen states and the District of Columbia on 2013.
  • A 2016 Journal of Pain survey of chronic pain patients found that among participants there was some suggested benefit to medical marijuana use, such as fewer side effects to medication, a 64% reduction in overall opioid use, and an improved quality of life among half patients.
  • A report released in January 2017 by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine compiled research from over 10,000 studies on marijuana and its components. The report states that “in adults with chronic pain, patients who were treated with cannabis or cannabinoids are more likely to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms.” This report also concluded that “there is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.”
  • Related Story: This Bill Will Protect State-Based Legal Marijuana Laws From Jeff Sessions And Federal Interference

You can read the entire letter here.

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