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What Marijuana Did For This Alzheimer’s Patient Will Give You Hope

Sam Jones
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What Marijuana Did For This Alzheimer’s Patient Will Give You Hope

We already know marijuana shows promise for memory boosting benefits and oxidative stress related to aging. But for the elderly suffering from late-stage diseases like Alzheimer’s, marijuana can still bring relief.

For 77-year-old Maine resident Dair Gillespie, taking daily cannabis tinctures orally offers her relief from advanced Alzheimer’s. Her spouse Ann Leffler helps her take the medicine and watches as it eases her suffering.

As Bangor Daily News reports:

Gillespie accepted the tincture calmly, holding it for several seconds before swallowing with no sign of distaste. The tincture in the bottle smelled mild and fresh. Sometimes, the morning dose is all Gillespie needs. But often, if she’s getting restless or worked up, Leffler will give her another, smaller dose mid-afternoon. It takes about a half hour for the subtle effects to show up — a more relaxed facial expression, a loosening of her clenched hands, a readier ability to focus on a familiar face or hold a cup.

“On cannabis, she’s very, very different,” Leffler said, screwing the dropper-top back on the one-ounce bottle. The drug has drastically reduced Gillespie’s overall agitation and combativeness. It’s made it easier for her to eat and sleep, and easier for caregivers to tend to her many needs. And, far from making her sleepy or “out of it,” Leffler said, cannabis has restored a small bit of awareness and responsiveness to her dear one. “She is much less anxious, much less fearful,” Leffler said. “She’s much more ‘there’ — she’ll laugh, she’ll smile, sometimes she’ll say a word or two that can be understood.”

Since 1999, medical marijuana has been legal in Maine but was only attainable from licensed growers or with a physician certification to grow your own. Patients gained more autonomy in 2012, when eight dispensaries opened in Maine, allowing caregivers and patients to purchase cannabis more easily.

Although Gillespie spends her last days resting, she’s still doing important work, as one of just a few people in Maine certified for medically prescribed marijuana to treat Alzheimer’s symptoms. She may not have the active, academic life she did before, but she’s still a trailblazer.

7 CBD Strains That Will Help You Cope With Anxiety

Maria Loreto
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7 CBD Strains That Will Help You Cope With Anxiety

While a lot of people enjoy the haziness that THC is known for, but many users feel impaired by the paranoia and aren’t able to enjoy the therapeutic properties of the plant. Luckily for all, marijuana has got our backs and has the ability of tending to everyone’s needs. Strains that contain high amounts of CBD won’t stimulate your brain as much, and will allow you to enjoy the relaxing properties of the plant.

Here are 7 CBD strains that you can enjoy without fear of a cloudy brain or paranoia:

CBD Critical Cure

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This indica dominant strain is known for its calming and sedative effect. It may produce a slight effect on the brain, but it’s main job will be to leave you relaxed, making it the perfect addition to a stressful or long day.

Harlequin

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This famous CBD strain has a 5:2 ratio of CBD to THC, producing an almost imperceptible psychoactive high. Harlequin produces energizing effects that will lift up your mood and help you get rid of all types of anxiety.

Harle-Tsu

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This hybrid is perfectly balanced, producing a high that’s not sedative but that’s also not energizing.

Ringo’s Gift

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This hybrid is mostly used medicinally since it has a 24:1 ratio of CBD to THC, producing relaxing results that won’t get to your head.

Sweet And Sour Widow

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This strain balances CBD and THC, acting as a perfect strain for amateurs and first time cannabis users. It produces slightly euphoric effects that are also relaxing and don’t lead to anxiety.

Stephen Hawking Kush

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This strain offers relaxing effects that contain a lot of CBD, making you feel happy and like you’ve got nothing to worry about.

ACDC

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This strain is perfect for day use, having a 21:1 ratio of CBD to THC while also producing relaxing and uplifting effects.

California Likely To Outlaw Marijuana Edibles Appealing To Children

Al Olson
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California Likely To Outlaw Marijuana Edibles Appealing To Children

We’ve written before about California’s extremely onerous proposed advertising restrictions, but last week, California’s legislature gave its final approval to another restrictive piece of legislation, Assembly Bill 350, that would ban edibles that appeal to children.

These types of legislation are nothing new. In Washington State, for example, cannabis processors must obtain approval from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) for all marijuana-infused products, labeling, and packaging before offering these items for sale to licensed retailers. And specifically, the LCB rules prohibit any marijuana product from being “designed to be especially appealing to children.”

Every state that has legalized cannabis in some capacity has adopted rules aiming to keep cannabis out of the hands of children – a priority that states must consider regulating in accordance with the 2013 Cole Memo. But the question of how to accomplish this – how onerous edibles regulations must be – has been highly controversial. Maureen Dowd’s infamous New York Times piece recounting her traumatizing “overdose” on marijuana-infused chocolate was one of many that helped fuel the fire of fear surrounding cannabis edibles.

But in California, at least until now, cannabis edibles have been completely unregulated. Infused products that look exactly like the candies we all know so well – gummy bears, lollipops, etc. – have been a staple in California dispensaries, and form the basis of many businesses. But it was only a matter of time before the state cracked down on these types of products, which can arguably be easily confused with the candy our children love.

The purpose of AB 350 is to flesh out the requirements for edible cannabis products produced by Level 1 (nonvolatile) and Level 2 (volatile) manufacturers pursuant to the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA).

The legislation provides that edible cannabis products shall be:

  1. Not designed to be appealing to children or easily confused with commercially sold candy or foods that do not contain cannabis. Cannabis products shall not be made in the shape of a person, animal, insect or fruit;
  2. Produced and sold with a standardized concentration of cannabinoids not to exceed ten (10) milligrams of THC per serving;
  3. Delineated or scored into standardized serving sizes if the cannabis product contains more than one serving and is an edible product in solid form;
  4. Homogenized to ensure uniform disbursement of cannabinoids throughout the product;
  5. Manufactured and sold under sanitation standards established by the State Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Bureau, that are similar to the standards for preparation, storage, handling, and sale of food products;
  6. Provided to customers with sufficient information to enable the informed consumption of the product, including the potential effects of the cannabis product and directions as to how to consume the cannabis product; and
  7. Marked with a universal symbol, as determined by the State Department of Public Health through regulation.

Although AB 350 will throw a wrench in the business plans of many currently operating cannabis manufacturers, we aren’t surprised in the least to see California adopting these types of restrictions aimed at keeping cannabis out of the hands of children. We’ll be keeping a close eye on whether Gov. Brown signs this bill, how broadly the state interprets these provisions, and what products ultimately will and will not be allowed.

This story first appeared on the Canna Law Blog. 

Pete Davidson Discusses Marijuana And Borderline Personality Disorder

Brendan Bures
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Pete Davidson Discusses Marijuana And Borderline Personality Disorder

Saturday Night Live returns this weekend and among the prominent rising stars of the cast will be Pete Davidson. The stand-up comedian announced earlier this year in an Instagram post that he’d quit marijuana and was sober for the first time in eight years. But as he relayed in a recent episode of WTF with Marc Maron, cannabis might not have been his problem after all.

The “Resident Young Person” at SNL revealed that he’d been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

His move to enter rehab was sparked around September/October of last year, where he “stared having these mental breakdowns where I would, like, freak out and then not remember what happened after. Blind rage,” Davidson said.

Though he was in the midst of a happy relationship with Cazzie David, the daughter of famous comedian Larry David, Davidson was looking for a relief from his mental lapses.

“I never really did any other drugs, so I was like, ‘I’m gonna try to go to rehab. Maybe that’ll be helpful,'” Davidson said. “So I go and I get off weed. They told me there, they’re like, ‘You might be bipolar,’ and I was like, ‘OK.’ So they’re like, ‘We’re gonna try you on these meds.’ And then I got out, and then I started smoking weed again—and I’m on meds.”

Following one admittedly dark episode, Davidson was officially diagnosed with BPD. He admitted to Maron that he’s still getting a handle on embracing his new situation.

“[My medication] is working, slowly but surely,” he said. “I’ve been having a lot of problems. This whole year has been a [bleeping] nightmare. This has been the worst year of my life, getting diagnosed with this and trying to figure out how to learn with this and live with this.”

At least he seems to have found a way to cope with his struggles:

Undoing The Negative Impact Of Marijuana On The Teenage Brain

Trey Reckling
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Undoing The Negative Impact Of Marijuana On The Teenage Brain

They told us that smoking marijuana was doing irreparable harm to our brains. It the equivalent of putting an egg in a hot frying pan. “This is your brain on drugs.” Yes, that’s the one.

If you grew up in the 1980s it was hard to avoid. Millions of taxpayer dollars were spent by Partnership for a Drug-Free America creating a professional propaganda machine to drive home the message. The War on Drugs would protect us. They had to arrest millions of Americans practicing what should have been their protected civil liberty to consume. It was for our protection. More importantly, it was for the kids. Afterall, you don’t want them to have permanent brain damage.

For years we have heard about the possible connection between adolescent cannabis use, schizophrenia and other psychoses. Researchers initially believed there could be a causality relationship, that cannabis use increased the user’s risk of developing certain mental health conditions. As time has gone by and more studies have been conducted, others have wondered if patients were simply self-medicating in a response to symptoms of psychosis that already existed.

Cannabis does impact the endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate sleep, appetite, and plays a major role in neurotransmission or how the brain communicates. This is the same system that doctors believe plays a major role in what is happening in the brains of those experiencing psychosis. 

Animal based research found that “there is evidence suggesting that chronic exposure to the primary psychoactive phytochemical in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), increases the long-term risk of psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia.” Others have found that this risk increases in adolescents who have a specific variant of one gene.

Science may have struck another damaging blow to the propaganda machine. It seems that harm done to the brains of adolescents who used cannabis may be reversible. A Canadian team has been taking a deeper look at schizophrenia by focusing on the neurotransmitters or chemical messengers in the brain.

In previous work, the team observed that animals that consumed THC over long periods of time had changes to their brain’s prefrontal cortex, increasing dopamine production. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps facilitate reward/feedback, emotion and physical movement. This increased their interest and they kept digging.

More recently they investigated another neurotransmitter called GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays a moderating effect in the brain’s chemical signaling. They discovered that rats exposed long term to THC had less GABA, causing their dopamine levels to spike and creating a “hyper” state more likely to lead to symptoms of psychosis.

The reason that is a big deal is that GABA levels can be balanced with medicines currently available. With the right dosing, the hyperactive brains could be brought back into a normal range, effectively “fixing” the problem.

“What is important about this study is that not only have we identified a specific mechanism in the prefrontal cortex for some of the mental health risks associated with adolescent marijuana use, but we have also identified a mechanism to reverse those risks.” — Prof. Steven Laviolette

Like much good research, this leads to a better understanding but creates additional questions. The same team is planning to next study how this connection between cannabis, dopamine and GABA effective treatment options for depression, addiction, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Considering how many people collectively suffer from those conditions, they should have no difficulty securing funding for years to come.

Here’s to more rigorous investigative science and less eggs in frying pans seeking simply to scare us into compliance. We have had enough of all that.

Study: Legal Marijuana Decreases Reliance On Opioids And Other Drugs

Richard Faulk
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Study: Legal Marijuana Decreases Reliance On Opioids And Other Drugs

The murky legality of marijuana means that physicians are allowed only to recommend, not prescribe, it, and users, even when medically justified, may try to hide their tracks.

“People are really using marijuana as medicine and not just using it for recreational purposes.” That’s the conclusion of Ashley Bradford of the University of Georgia, lead author of a study on the impact of medical marijuana and opioid use.

Bradford and her research team examined prescription rates between 2010 and 2013 in jurisdictions that had medical marijuana laws. While they found that overall rates were steady, in all but one of the nine categories where the FDA has approved cannabis medication, pharmaceutical prescriptions declined.

The largest results were registered with anxiety, nausea, and psychosis, all of which declined annually by more than 500 prescriptions per doctor. Seizure prescriptions dropped by 486, and painkillers by a stunning 1,826 per doctor.

The one anomaly is glaucoma, which jumped by 35. But the team had anticipated that: To completely treat the degenerative eye disease, cannabis must be administered every hour or two, which is an unsustainable pace (although for some of us it may be an aspiration). Nevertheless, the buzz about cannabis medicine might have motivated more patients to consult their doctors; hence the rise in prescriptions.

While the study mostly welcomes the changes, it does find some cause for concern. The murky legality of marijuana means that physicians are allowed only to recommend, not prescribe, it, and users, even when medically justified, may try to hide their tracks.

“What does this mean?” speculates co-author David Bradford. “Do you then go less frequently to the doctor and maybe your non-symptomatic hypertension, elevated blood sugar and elevated cholesterol go unmanaged? If that’s the case, that could be a negative consequence to this.”

How Microdosing Marijuana Could Help You

Kristy Gustafson
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How Microdosing Marijuana Could Help You

“With microdosing,” one Rolling Stone article says, “people are getting the maximum benefit from the minimum amount, without becoming stoned, paranoid or lethargic.”

There’s a new golden rule taking over the world of cannabis: less is more. That’s right, newcomers and seasoned stoners alike are discovering ways to reap the benefits of marijuana without unwanted psychoactive effects, proving that, as always, that slow and steady wins the race.

“With microdosing,” one Rolling Stone article says, “people are getting the maximum benefit from the minimum amount, without becoming stoned, paranoid or lethargic.” After all, the goal of all medicine is to look for the minimum effective dose. And cannabis is no different. While it differs from person to person, a microdose is considered anything under 10mg, with doses like 2.5mg and 5mg being among the fan favorites. So where to begin?

Related: This Guy May Run For Florida Governor On Pro-Marijuana Platform

Well, take your pick really… The possibilities are endless, but lucky for you, we rounded up a few new products to help with the breakdown.

Stillwater

If you’re looking for a microdose experience that begins your day with clear-headed creativity and an energetic boost, you’re in luck. Stillwater’s latest innovation introduces the first cannabis-infused instant coffee sticks, and combines the productive focus of a low dose of THC with your favorite caffeinated buzz. Clockwork Coffee fully dissolves in seconds, contains no fat, calories or sugar, and comes in two dosages: Balanced 5 (a microdose of 5mg THC and 5mg CBD) and Pure 10 (10mg THC). Enjoy it hot, cold, at home, or on the go… Just add water and start feeling the effects in as little as twenty minutes. Coffee not your cup of tea? Check out their line of infused teas, Stillwater (2.5mg THC and 2.5mg CBD) and Whitewater (10mg), featuring delicious flavors like Mellow Mint, Gentle Green, and Blissful Black.

Sweet Grass Kitchen

You probably already know these guys for their fresh-baked lineup of cannabutter-infused confections, but how about their new treat on the block? This summer, Sweet Grass Kitchen announced their first-ever, distillate-infused Fruit Snacks. Made with real fruit juice, these mixed berry-flavored gummies are equal parts refreshing and delicious, and offer an uplifting microdose at 5mg. While their cannabutter goodies offer a sativa-dominant mind and body high, the effects of distillate are more cerebral. Expect a motivating high, one the Sweet Grass folks have dubbed “The Tuesday Night High,” aka perfect for getting sh*t done. Looking to start even lower? Rip the Fruit Snack in half or try out their 2.5mg Buttermelts, the cannabis equivalent to a beer or glass of wine. Available in White Russian, Mojito Mint, and Moscow Mule.

Stratos

We’ve heard the debate again and again. #PotOverPills… #PlantsOverPharm…you know, all those clever hashtags trending in the stoner Twittersphere as of late. Well, no matter your side of the coin, how about a company that’s merging the two? Stratos THC pills are the ideal approach for the newcomer, old timer, and probably just about everyone in between looking for a familiar method that’s dose-accurate as well as discrete. Even if the idea of pills freaks you out, let’s talk about just how accurate these doses are. Compared to the state industry requirement of +/- 20 percent of dose reproducibility, Stratos’ products test within TWO percent. (Translation: these guys know their stuff… And coming from the world of medicine, would you expect anything less?).

Related: Senator Cory Gardner Signs Pro-Cannabis Research Bill

In 2014, they set out to create a line of pharmaceutical-grade THC and CBD infused tablets that consumers could rely on for consistency and effect. Today these products are available in 5mg microdoses (and higher), and catered towards your desired outcome: Sleep, Relax, Energy, and various CBD:THC ratio products.

GoFire

So far, this microdose guide has given you ways to drink it, eat it, and pop it. What did we tell you? Endless possibilities. Last, but not least, of course…? Smoke it if you got it. Or in this case, vape it. Before you go thinking, what could possibly make this vaporizer hold its own against an ever-growing ‘planet of the vapes,’ well, there’s a lot actually. For starters, it began with a unique mission to build a medicinal vaporizer from the ground up. And now, it’s finally coming to fruition. In just a few months, GoFire will release the first intelligent vaporization device with a personal dosing app designed to give you “a dose of confidence,” and, let’s face it, much much more. Its unique microdosing technology allows you to mindfully control every dose in 5mg increments. Plus, with the accompanying Bluetooth-enabled smartphone app, you can visually track what’s working for any given ailment, and learn from every dose. Compatible with loose leaf, extracts, and specially designed oil cartridges, the device also allows you to personalize the temperature settings to create an experience that’s just how you like it. In the end, it’s about control. GoFire wants to quantify consumption so the consumer feels comfortable knowing they’re getting the same thing every time. Keep your eyes peeled for its upcoming launch!

This Professional Golfer Just Came Out As Marijuana User

Brendan Bures
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This Professional Golfer Just Came Out As Marijuana User

The PGA Tour recently announced it would be updating its drug policy for golfers starting with its new season. While players previously had to submit urine tests, their blood will now also be tested for human-growth hormone as well as banned substances. The program closely resembles how Olympic athletes are tested.

In addition, results and suspensions will now be publicly announced and will remove speculation if certain golfers really had a back injury or were bounced for a failed drug test.

While some may think golfers who use cannabis would be against these new procedures, the opposite is true. One undercover tour pro anonymously came out in Golf Digest, admitting he used cannabis on the regular.

“Among PGA Tour players, no one cares about recreational drugs,” the anonymous pro wrote, because “You can delude yourself into thinking a little ‘swing oil’ or ‘green wax’ helps, but in any money game, your opponent would love to see you imbibe.”

The player also admitted to being high at a previous tour event:

“Have I ever been high in a PGA Tour event? Sure. Haven’t done it often, but if I’m teeing off Sunday near last place with no way to move up the leader board meaningfully, I’ll treat myself to making the day a little more fun, or at least different. I’ve smoked beforehand with the other players in my group, too.”

Though the anonymous player was caught once for using, amounting to “a slap on the wrist,” he doesn’t believe the new program will cause him any worry.

Via Golf Digest:

“Clearly, there’s a cultural shift happening with weed as legalization spreads, and the more lenient threshold on our tour is a small part. I’m not looking forward to having my blood drawn, but if it catches a few guys trying to get stronger and longer by real cheating, here’s my arm.”

Disney’s Flamin’ Hot Mac And Cheetos Cone Is Burning Up Instagram

Amy Hansen
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Disney’s Flamin’ Hot Mac And Cheetos Cone Is Burning Up Instagram

A black cone filled with spicy mac and cheese might not seem super appealing, but at Disneyland, that color combo somehow becomes instantly magical, especially when you factor in that Halloween is only about a month away.

The only thing “The Happiest Place on Earth” is known for besides rides and lost children is its endless lines for novelty food stuffs, and this new California Adventure obsession is right on time.

Just look at this thing. Would you even know what it was if you hadn’t read about it first?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZOz5WtF8k1

Located in Cars Land at the Cozy Cone Motel, Disney released the new treat for Halloween, along with a bunch of other scary stuff.

This mac and cheese monstrosity is officially called the Slow Burnin’ Mac & Cheese Cone and it’s basically just some pasta with spicy red pepper cheese sauce topped with crushed chile-cheese puffs (which sounds an awful lot like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos) and served in a Black Cauldron Cone (made jet black by charcoal, which is SO HOT RIGHT NOW!). Disney may be long in the tooth, but they’re no dummies. They tapped into two social media trends (likely on their way out).

Also available at the Cozy Cone Motel: the delightful looking Spoke-y Cone Macaron filled with marshmallow buttercream and candy corn…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZMTbngl0RB

…and Junkyard JamBOOree Mix, which is flavored popcorn with optional “nuts and bolts” (i.e. green M&M’s, candy corn, chocolate-covered pretzels, Boston baked beans, etc.).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZUWBWEFcK2

According to Foodbeast, the mac and cheese cone sells for $9 and will only be available through October.

MLB Upset Wiz Khalifa Endorsed Marijuana Legalization At Game

Brendan Bures
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MLB Upset Wiz Khalifa Endorsed Marijuana Legalization At Game

Here is something you should know about Wiz Khalifa before you associate your business with him—he likes marijuana. His most successful album is called Rolling Papers and he throughout his career dropped mixtapes with titles like Kush & Orange Juice and Burn After Rolling. Just this summer he dropped two more mixtapes called Pre-Rolleds and Bong Rips. He also has his own mobile video game titled Weed Farm and the marijuana strain Khalifa Kush is named after him.

For some reason, however, the MLB reprimanded the Pittsburgh Pirates for allowing Wiz Khalifa to throw the first pitch in a game this week. Why? Well, Wiz wore a shirt that said “Legalize It” and mimed the motion of puffing a joint while on the mound.

Okay, so maybe Wiz himself didn’t help matters there.

Here is what MLB spokesman Pat Courtney told TribLive’s Rob Biertempfel:

Marijuana is a (prohibited) substance in all of our drug programs, and it is unfortunate this situation occurred. The Pirates have informed us that this should not have happened.

But this all occurred in Pennsylvania, a state that has already legalized medical marijuana. In addition, the MLB has a rather bullish stance on marijuana anyways. Outside of the Olympics and the PGA, the MLB has the highest allowance for what any professional sports league considers a positive drug test at 50 nanograms per milliliter. (Comparatively the NBA’s is set at 15 ng/ML and the NFL just raised theirs to 35 ng/mL. Marijuana is not among the NHL’s banned substances list.)

MLB players aren’t even tested for marijuana. The only time a major league baseball player is if there exists valid suspicion to do so. In other words, don’t store a bong at the clubhouse and you’ll probably be fine.

It all comes across as kind of hypocritical. The league’s policies are friendly to cannabis overall and teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies play at stadiums sponsored by major beer companies (Miller Park and Coors Field, respectively). This is one of those events that isn’t a big deal if it weren’t for social media and some angry tweets as TribLive included in their story.

This boils down to a simple question: You let Wiz Khalifa throw the first pitch—what else did you expect to happen?

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