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Cannabis, CBD Oil, and Autism: What Do We Know So Far?

Kelly Weimert
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Cannabis, CBD Oil, and Autism: What Do We Know So Far?

With medical marijuana becoming increasingly legal and accessible across the United States, more and more research is being done to learn its potential benefits when it comes to treatment for myriad illnesses and disorders. Prominent among the disorders being looked at are Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). ASD are brain-based disorders that pose social-communication challenges as well as restricted repetitive behaviors, activities, and interests of people afflicted. Recently, researchers have been studying cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) oil, and how they might relieve some challenges for those with autism, and the results are promising.

While there are no verified clinical studies on the relationship between cannabis and autism yet, there is growing anecdotal evidence from both parents and healthcare providers as to its effectiveness in relieving autistic symptoms.

However, because there aren’t any clinical studies to reference as of now, doctors are hesitant to prescribe cannabis as a treatment option for autism. And given United States authorities’ strict regulations around clinical trials, with some waiting for many years for their trial to be approved, getting the necessary data is difficult.

Still, despite these research limitations, there do exist a multitude of studies that suggest cannabis and CBD as a helpful course of treatment for folks with autism.

Evidence Supporting CBDs For Autism

This is some of what we know so far based on anecdotal evidence.

Dr. Giovanni Martinez, a clinical psychologist based in Puerto Rico, began treating a child with autism so severe he couldn’t speak. After three weeks of treatment that involved the child spraying small doses of CBD oil into his mouth twice daily, he spoke his first words. His mother reported that once his communication improved so, too, did his irritable outbursts, which is likely a result of reduced frustration over trying to communicate his needs.

Moreover, a 2013 study conducted by Dr. Siniscalco suggests that compounds found in cannabis can help with treatment due to CB2 receptors being a therapeutic target for pharmacological management of care for autism.

Another study published in 2013 led Dr. Csaba Foldy found, “endocannabinoids are molecules that are critical regulators of normal neuron activity and are important for many brain functions. By conducting studies in mice, we found that neuroliginb-3, a protein that is mutated in some individuals with autism, is important for relaying signals that tone down communication between neurons.”

Additionally, there’s an increasing amount of evidence suggesting cannabis and CBD oil as effective treatment options for epilepsy. And because there are medical and biological parallels between epilepsy and autism, it’s led many professionals to believe that there could also be a cannabis treatment connection for autism.

Still, these studies are based only on anecdotal evidence and not hard data. If the goal is to get doctors on board with prescribing the drug for autism, it’s critical that there are clinical studies done on the subject. And there seems to be one researcher in particular leading the charge.

During January of this year began the first-ever clinical study on cannabis as a treatment option for autism. The pediatric neurologist leading the study, Israel-based Dr. Adi Aran, became interested in cannabis’ and CBD oil’s potential after an increasing number of studies showed anecdotal promise.

In Aran’s study, participants are given two types of cannabis oil formulas or a placebo and, so far, has been finding that some participants are experiencing a reduction in their symptoms and improvements in their behavior overall.

And while Aran cautions against premature conclusions about cannabis as an effective treatment option for autism, he feels optimistic about what he’s seen so far.

Bottom Line

Those interested in CBD oil and cannabis as a treatment option for autism should feel optimistic about their potential effectiveness, but more research needs to be done before any hard conclusions can be made.
This story originally appeared on CannabisFN.

How Cannabis Affects Eye Health

Delilah Butterfield
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How Cannabis Affects Eye Health

Many cannabis consumers have experienced the infamous red eye. The eyes are often the most common giveaway after a serious session with a vaporizer. But how does cannabis affect overall eye health?

Yet, while some may find the herb’s visible effects on the eyes to be burdensome, there are several surprising ways that cannabis supports ocular health.

From easing symptoms of eye disease to staving off degenerative blindness, here’s what you need to know about how cannabis affects the eyes:
How does cannabis affect the eyes?

As it turns out, cannabis may help you see things a little differently. Research suggests that the herb can have an impact on every organ in the body, including the eyes.

While it may sound too good to be true, cannabis compounds work their magic in the eyes by tapping into one of the largest cellular communication networks in vertebrates. This network is the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Cannabis compounds interact with the ECS by engaging a special type of cell receptor, called a cannabinoid receptor.

The human eye happens to express high levels of one particular cannabinoid receptor, the CB1. Vision processing centers of the brain also feature a bounty of these landing sites.

In addition, preclinical investigations suggest that the ECS plays a crucial role in our vision.

A 2016 primate study published in Neural Plasticity has found that manipulating cannabinoid receptors changes the way electroretinographic waves pass through the retina.

These waves are measured by an electroretinogram, which records the electrical response of the eye to a light stimulus. The researchers found that cannabinoid receptors moderated the eye’s response to light.

The ways in which cannabis affects eyesight needs further investigation. However, this early research offers even more reason to investigate cannabis as a treatment for diseases of the eye.

Already, there are several acute ways that cannabis affects the eyes. While some are spectacular, like improved night vision, not all of the effects are enjoyable. Shortly after consuming the herb, it is not uncommon to experience:

Red Eye

Red eyes are not always the favorite cannabis side effect. While red eyes may be a tell-tale giveaway that you’ve consumed a little cannabis, those who experience tension around the eye might appreciate the relaxing effects of the herb.

Cannabis lowers blood pressure. This causes capillaries and blood vessels to dilate, leading to what is commonly referred to as red eye.

Wider capillaries mean blood flows into the eyes, reducing intraocular pressure. In a way, this a form of relaxation for the eyes. This could be beneficial for patients with painful ocular conditions like glaucoma.

Allergy

It’s not uncommon for some people to experience an allergic reaction in the eyes after smoking cannabis. This reaction can be triggered by an allergy to smoke, residual molds, or the cannabis plant itself.

Signs of allergy typically include itchiness, redness, inflammation, tearing, and dryness.

In 2015, research from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology suggests that cannabis allergy is similar to Hay Fever, causing eye irritation and an itchy nose for those exposed to smoke, pollen, or plant material.

Enhanced Night Vision

Laboratory research like that mentioned above has found that cannabinoid receptors seem to help the eyes respond to light.

Additional research from 2016 suggests that cannabis compounds, like psychoactive THC, connect with these receptors. Engaging these receptors is thought to improve the ability to see in low-light conditions.

For the past three decades, researchers have speculated that cannabis may also improve night vision. In the 1990s, M.E. West, a pharmacologist, noticed that Jamaican fishermen who consumed a cannabis elixir had an “uncanny ability to see in the dark.”

A small study conducted in 2004 tested the effects of traditional cannabis Kif and a synthetic THC in three Moroccan individuals. Kif is a mixture of cannabis and tobacco. This small experiment found a dose-dependent relationship between cannabis consumption and improved night vision.

Visual Processing

Interestingly, recent evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system contributes to visual development in the brain.

A study from University of Waterloo, University of Auckland and Brown University found that babies exposed to cannabis in utero scored significantly higher in visual processing tests.

While babies exposed to alcohol scored lower in visual processing tests, those exposed to cannabis had improved global motion perception.

This is certainly not a reason to consume cannabis during pregnancy, but these findings do add fuel to the idea that cannabinoids and the ECS help the eyes and brain make sense of visual information.

Cannabis And Eye Disease

Cannabis affects the eyes in a variety of different ways. While there is still much to discover about cannabis and eye health, a growing body of evidence suggests that the herb may be useful in a number of diseases of the eye. Some of these diseases include:

Glaucoma

The notorious red eye that cannabis causes may also be the reason the herb is thought to be so helpful for glaucoma patients. Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve, and it is considered one of the leading causes of blindness in the world.

Researchers have been studying the effects of cannabis on glaucoma since as early as the 1970s. In one experiment with 16 human participants, inhaled cannabis successfully reduced the intraocular pressure that contributes to pain and degeneration with this disease.

Patients felt relief for a total of three to four hours after cannabis treatment. Patients with high blood pressure and glaucoma experienced the longest and most significant results. Research from 1980 and 2000 corroborate these findings.

Neurodegenerative Blindness

In 2014, research published in Experimental Eye Research suggested that cannabis medicines may be able to slow down degenerative blindness. Specifically, cannabis compounds prevented the death of photoreceptors in those with retinitis pigmentosa.

The research used rodents as test subjects. Rats were treated with a synthetic cannabinoid over the course of 90 days. After the three months were up, the scientists checked on the progression of their blindness.

Rats treated with the cannabinoid had an impressive 40 percent more photoreceptors than their nontreated counterparts. This is strong evidence that cannabis-like therapies can slow down ocular degeneration in neurodegenerative blindness.

Studies in other areas have found that the herb contains powerful neuroprotective antioxidants, which may lend a hand in a variety of age-associated conditions, not just poor eyesight.

Diabetic Retinopathy

A 2006 preclinical study found that cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabis compound that does not cause a psychotropic “high”, may help protect the eyes of diabetics.

Diabetic retinopathy is a side effect of diabetes and it causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive part of the eye. In diabetic retinopathy, the nerve cells in the eye begin to die, which directly affects eyesight.

As a potent antioxidant, researchers believe that CBD can check back some of the toxicity in the retina that contributes to degeneration.

A study claiming chronic cannabis consumption damages the retina has recently made headlines across the net. Yet, this 2006 research suggests that some cannabis compounds may actually protect the retina from damage. Perhaps it just depends on how you use the herb.

If you want to learn more, you can check out Green Flower’s new live class: “Cannabis for Glaucoma.”
This story originally appeared on Green Flower.

7 Household Products Every Marijuana Lover Needs

Al Olson
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7 Household Products Every Marijuana Lover Needs

You are more than likely to have a paper clip in the bottom of a kitchen junk drawer. Or an old business card from that job you had a few years ago. Well, before you toss them in the trash, read this.

There are a bunch of uses for household items that will come in handy when cleaning or storing cannabis products. No need to spend a penny – just find these items in your drawers or cupboards.

Paper Clips

If you use a pipe or bong as your go-to smoking device, you know the problem with sticky, gunky resin blocking the holes. Airflow is essential and the eventual blockage really is a pain. Paper clips are your friend. Just twist the end and use it as a poker to unclog the holes in the bowl and the mouthpiece. Paper clips are bendable and flexible and skinny enough to get inside the device and get it clean.

Rubbing Alcohol

Stock up on isopropyl alcohol. It is the go-to cleaning solution for glass. You can soak your pipe or bong in rubbing alcohol overnight and it will break down the resin and make cleaning a snap. There is something wonderful about a sparkling clean pipe that makes smoking cannabis more enjoyable and, well, CLEAN. You don’t have to be a neat freak to appreciate this tip.

White Vinegar

Rubbing alcohol is great for gunky resin and residue out of bongs. But white vinegar helps remove hard-water stains. If you fill your smoking device with distilled water, you shouldn’t get stains. But, really, most of us just use tap water. Clean the inside and outside of your bong with white vinegar before moving on to the rubbing alcohol cleanse. Your piece will look brand new – and who wouldn’t enjoy that?

Cotton Swabs

Keep them out of your ears and use them to clean your cannabis gadgets. Just dip the swab in a little rubbing alcohol and scrub your pipe, vape pen or any other device. Once again, a clean piece makes using it more enjoyable. And if you are sharing, why pass a dirty pipe to a friend?

Mason Jars  

These screw-top, air-tight containers are ideal for storing your cannabis. Here’s a little tip: Store your stash in a cool location away from any direct daylight. (And if you have children, PLEASE store your cannabis in a safe place!) Mason jars are usually clear or opaque. To make them even more effective, wrap it in dark construction paper or gift paper. But get rid of the plastic baggie.

Business Cards

Do people even use business cards anymore? I mean for the traditional purpose? Well, business cards have a few utilitarian purpose for cannabis connoisseurs. They are great to use as a “scraper” for ground herb. Another use is as a “crutch” if you roll a joint. Instead of putting your lips on the end of a rolled cannabis cigarette, you can roll a piece of a rolled up credit card on one end. It’s a more enjoyable, less messy way to smoke a joint. It takes a little practice, but it is worth the effort.

Tweezers

Yep, tweezers are still the perfect “roach clip.” If you are smoking a joint and near the end, use tweezers to hold it. It’s the old-school way … and it still works. And remember, regularly clean the tweezers with rubbing alcohol on the tip of a cotton swab!

Our 5 Favorite ‘Game Of Thrones’ Food Moments So Far

Brendan Bures
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Our 5 Favorite ‘Game Of Thrones’ Food Moments So Far

George R.R. Martin really likes food, if “Game of Thrones” is any indication. A Song of Ice And Fire, the book series GoT is based on, is full of descriptions that serve as better food porn than whatever post your stroll past on Instagram. His fantastic world-building begins with the food, the very fuel that motivates his characters forward.

Just read this description from a wedding feast in A Dance With Dragons:

The Lord of White Harbor had furnished the food and drink, black stout and yellow beer and wines red and gold and purple, brought up from the warm south on fat-bottomed ships and aged in his deep cellars. The wedding guests gorged on cod cakes and winter squash, hills of neeps and great round wheels of cheese, on smoking slabs of mutton and beef ribs charred almost black, and lastly on three great wedding pies, as wide across as wagon wheels, their flaky crusts stuffed to bursting with carrots, onions, turnips, parsnips, mushrooms, and chunks of seasoned pork swimming in a savory brown gravy.

Did you climax? Because I did.

There are travel and food writers, whose very job predicates them writing well about gastronomy, who can’t pull that off. Martin’s food writing is in a class with Ernest Hemingway about this stuff. So in honor of the upcoming Game of Thrones season, we wanted to mention some of the best food moments from the series. Remember that without Martin, none of this possible. Thanks dude.

Daenerys Targaryen Eats A Stallion Heart

This was one of the first moments when we realized Daenerys Targaryen wouldn’t be stopped. As Dothraki legend goes, if she can eat the entire raw horse heart, Daenerys will give birth to a healthy son. This is like the 17th weirdest thing about Dothraki tradition, but Dany does what she must.

Red And Purple Wedding

You do not need my recap of why both the Red Wedding and Purple Wedding are absolute bonkers. Watching both is an exercise in disbelief, in shattering of fantasy narrative tropes long held. You can’t believe they’d actually do that.

But my favorite moment of the Red Wedding in the books is how even as the action turns to 12, he still sneaks in a great food description. “Ser Wendel crashed forward, knocking the table off its trestles and sending cups, flagons, trenchers, platters, turnips, beets, and wine bouncing, spilling, and sliding across the floor,” he writes. The tragedy is as much about the lost lives as the lost food.

Margaery Asks Cersei If She Wants Some Wine

This is the coldest shade in the series. Allow me to transcribe the above moment for you. The newlywedded Margaery is enjoying some treats and drinks as her new mother-in-law Cersei approaches. Her greeting: “Can we bring you anything to eat or drink. I wish we had some wine for you. It’s a bit early in the day for us.” Too cold.

Sansa Stark And Lemon Cakes

Imagine everyone winning your favor with the food you love. What Game of Thrones realizes—what George R.R. Martin understands—is the sensuality of food and drink. How your consumption affects your internal feelings on those around you. How food can seduce and bribe and confuse you. Multiple characters use lemon cakes to bring Sansa closer to them, both for good and bad intentions.

Ramsay Bolton Eating Pork Sausage

“Do you think I’m some sort of savage?” That is how Ramsay cements his legacy as the series most sinister villains. Watching him eat that pork sausage after he just castrated Theon is what the show does best. Sensuality mixed with oddly erotic subtext. Just like a good meal, right?

How To Make Your Own Coachella-Inspired Cannabis Crown

Amy Hansen
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How To Make Your Own Coachella-Inspired Cannabis Crown

Music festivals and summer go together like, well, weed and music festivals.

And with music festivals comes flower child appeal, like DIY crowns. Why not combine the two? With a cannabis crown adorning your head, you’ll be able to smoke the accessory once you’re done with it for the season. Sustainability and all that. (Just make sure you Instagram it first, or it never happened.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSr8LKZBM4y

Here’s a super simple tutorial that requires just 5 household items, including your stash:

  • Floral tape
  • Floral wire
  • Fresh flowers/greens of your choice
  • Wire cutters
  • 2-4 grams of your favorite strain

Step 1: measure you head by wrapping the floral wire around your head, like you would with a measuring tape. Leave 1 to 2 additional inches on each end for wrapping and cut the wire. Tape the circle shut with floral tape.

Step 2: Continue wrapping the tape around the rest of the crown for a more natural feel.

Step 3: Cut the flower stems so they’re short enough to adhere to your crown and long enough to tape (approx. 1-2 inches).

Step 4: Tape the stems to the crown, arranging however you’d like. Don’t forget to throw some weed nugs in there, too!

Pro-tip: If you’re having trouble getting your buds and their short stems to adhere, remove the bottom leaves to make more room on the stem. 

And there you have it. Your own smokeable headdress! Enjoy responsibly.

Gossip: Rob Kardashian Claims Blac Chyna Tried To Strangle Him; Daniel Craig Coming Back As James Bond

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Rob Kardashian Claims Blac Chyna Tried To Strangle Him; Daniel Craig Coming Back As James Bond

Rob Kardashian is responding to Blac Chyna’s restraining order with allegations of domestic violence of his own.

Chyna told the judge at her restraining order hearing this morning that back in April Rob was mad at her and began speaking poorly of her in front of her son, King.

When she asked him to stop she says Rob screamed,

“I can say whatever the f*** I want!” and then grabbed her phone, pushed her to the ground, “aggressively shoving me by the side of my arm and hitting me on the thigh.”

She says she fell to the ground and when she got up she was bruised and could barely walk. Chyna also says she has been fully broken up with Rob since last December, adding, “Rob has been violent with me in the past and I am afraid to be around him.”

There’s another incident where she claims Rob hit her to the ground and she ran to her bedroom before he broke the door open. Chyna claims she has photos and pictures of the incident.

As for Rob, he says that day in December when Chyna moved out that she tried choking him with an iPhone cord and tried hitting him with a metal rod. Corey Gamble walked in and physically pulled Chyna off of Rob. She then went through the house smashing televisions, doors, and other items causing $35,000 in damage. Rob has video of the incident, but if you recall the aftermath was also documented on ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashian’ cameras and aired a few months back.

In what might be the most important component of Rob’s defense, Rob’s lawyers have texts from when Chyna moved out and she told a friend that Rob would never hit her.

Rob’s lawyer says they’re not fighting the restraining order and Rob agrees that ‘slut-shaming’ Chyna was a regrettable decision. His only concern now is baby Dream.

Daniel Craig Coming Back As James Bond

Daniel Craig has changed his mind and is set to sign up for his fifth Bond movie – with Adele lined up to join him. The actor, 48, claimed he would “rather slash my wrists” than play 007 again but his U-turn came after a host of British stars were tipped to replace him.

The Wire star Idris Elba, Peaky Blinders’ Tom Hardy, Happy Valley villain James Norton and Poldark’s Aidan Turner were all contenders. But Bond producer Barbara Broccoli is said to have secured Craig – and we can reveal she is “determined” that superstar singer Adele will record the theme tune.

The partnership made 2012’s Skyfall the most profitable Bond ever with takings of £885 million. Her song Skyfall was the first Bond theme to win at the Brit Awards, Grammy Awards and Golden Globes. Although Adele had to cancel the final two shows of her world tour because of damaged vocal chords, Barbara is said to be “talking the singer round”. She believes “Bond25” can start filming next year and will be a sure fire hit.

A source involved in the project said: “Craig and Adele together are the winning team, the ultimate choice, the money spinners. It’s taken time but Daniel has come round and the strong con–sensus in the Bond offices is that Mr Craig is 007 again. As for Adele, she’s more of an unknown quantity but loved being part of Bond, so the signs are positive.”

The insider said Craig’s actress wife Rachel Weisz, 47, is “on board with the decision” for him to spend a year away filming. Craig claimed in 2015 that if he did play the spy again “it would be for the money.” He was said to have been offered up to £120million for two more films. Skyfall and Spectre scriptwriter John Logan is also said to be involved in the project.
[From The Daily Mirror]

Love the fresh dirt we bring over daily from Naughty Gossip? Let us know in the comments!

Nevada Running Out Of Marijuana, Statement Of Emergency Declared

Terry Hacienda
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Nevada Running Out Of Marijuana, Statement Of Emergency Declared

Marijuana sales have been legal in Nevada for just over one week and already the stores can’t keep up with the demand.

Late last week, officials from the state’s Department of Taxation made the surprising announcement that Gov. Brian Sandoval endorsed the department’s “statement of emergency.” State officials will meet this Thursday to consider adopting an emergency regulation that could solve the problem.

It’s not just your basic supply-and-demand economic principles at play here. According to the Reno Gazette-Journal:

As the state law legalizing recreational marijuana was passed in November, wholesale alcohol distributors were promised exclusive rights to transport wholesale marijuana for the first 18 months of legal sales. Since November, the state has received seven applications from liquor wholesalers.

The department tried to address the issue earlier this year by opening the application process up to the businesses that have been transporting medical marijuana and other marijuana businesses, but an 11th hour court battle ended in an order only to accept applications from wholesale alcohol distributors. The taxation department since appealed the court’s decision.

Now that any marijuana dispensary licensed to sell recreational marijuana must receive all product — both recreational and medical — from a distributor licensed to transport recreational marijuana, many of them are stuck with dwindling supplies of flower and edibles both.

Thursday’s hearing will examine the stranglehold distributors have on the process.

“Based on reports of adult-use marijuana sales already far exceeding the industry’s expectations at the state’s 47 licensed retail marijuana stores, and the reality that many stores are running out of inventory, the Department must address the lack of distributors immediately. Some establishments report the need for delivery within the next several days,” said department spokeswoman Stephanie Klapstein.

Riana Durrett, executive director of the Nevada Dispensary Association, estimated sales of around $3 million during the first four days of business.

Fictional Whiskey: 5 Great Scenes Of Literary Imbibing

Katelyn Best
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Fictional Whiskey: 5 Great Scenes Of Literary Imbibing

Plenty of great writers, including the ones on this list, have been whiskey drinkers—and unsurprisingly, whiskey also has a tendency to show up in their books. Here’s a short rundown of some boozy moments in literature, classic and otherwise:

John Steinbeck

Whiskey makes an appearance in several of Steinbeck’s books, including his magnum opus, The Grapes of Wrath. Tom Joad drains a pint in the early chapters as he makes his way back to the family homestead. His uncle John, meanwhile, has a well-known proclivity for whiskey and “jake,” an infamous Prohibition-era patent medicine that was both mostly alcohol and known to cause nerve damage.

Ernest Hemingway

Well-known alcoholic Ernest Hemingway was fond of many drinks, and while most people probably associate him with daiquiris or absinthe, he was also a prodigious whiskey drinker. Supposedly his real-life drink of choice was a scotch and soda, and that drink appears more frequently in his writing than any other—notably in The Snows of Kilimanjaro. In the autobiographical A Moveable Feast, he pounds quite a few whiskeys between rounds of smack-talk about F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein.

James Bond

The best-known Bond drink may be a vodka martini (say it with me: shaken, not stirred), but over the years, the MI6 agent has also indulged in plenty of whiskey. Although several of the Bond films feature Talisker or Macallan, in the books, he often drank bourbon, a choice that was apparently based on Ian Fleming’s real-life preference for American whiskey.

Supposedly, Fleming switched from gin to bourbon on the advice of his doctor, who thought it might be marginally less damaging to his ailing heart.

William Faulkner

Like his contemporary, Hemingway, the southern gothic master drank constantly; unlike Hemingway, who preferred to write “cold,” Faulkner’s writing was fueled by bourbon, corn whiskey, and mint juleps. Whiskey features in his writing, too: Joe Christmas, a central character in his 1932 novel Light in August, is a bootlegger in the Prohibition-era south.

The Hunger Games

Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of this dystopian YA series, hails from a post-apocalyptic Appalachia, re-designated District 12 by the authoritarian Capital. Besides imagining it as a coal-mining hub, author Suzanne Collins gives another nod to the area’s real-life history: in Catching Fire, several characters, including Katniss herself, are depicted drinking moonshine (referred to as “white liquor” in the book).

This article originally appeared on The Whiskey Wash.

The Fresh Toast Marijuana Legislative Roundup: July 10

Alec Engber
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The Fresh Toast Marijuana Legislative Roundup: July 10

Marijuana reform slowed to a crawl last week in Massachusetts and Florida. In Massachusetts, negotiations between the state House and Senate to reconcile cannabis bills were suspended. And in Florida, a lawsuit was filed challenging the state’s ban on smoking marijuana for medical patients. Read all about this and more in our weekly marijuana legislative roundup,

Massachusetts:

On Wednesday, House Speaker Robert DeLeo temporarily suspended negotiations between members of the state House and Senate to reconcile the recreational marijuana bills passed by the two chambers. In June, the state House of Representatives passed legislation to repeal and replace the recreational marijuana law passed by voters in November.

The House bill would effectively raise taxes on marijuana sales from 12 percent to 28 percent, remove the authority of municipal voters to regulate the opening of cannabis retailers, and impose more stringent regulations on recreational cannabis than the ballot measure intended.

The Senate bill, meanwhile, would change the way marijuana is regulated at the state level, require municipal referenda on the opening of recreational retailers, and expunge past convictions for marijuana possession. With lawmakers close to a deal on the state’s budget, negotiators hope to resume talks in the near future.

 Oregon:

On Thursday, the Oregon Senate passed a bill to modify the state’s recreational marijuana system. If signed by Governor Kate Brown, H.B. 2198 would create an Oregon Cannabis Commission to oversee the state’s medical and recreational cannabis regulations. The OCC would be comprised of representatives from various stakeholder groups and would operate under the Oregon Health Authority.

The bill would also allow thousands of Oregon medical marijuana dispensaries to sell a maximum of 20 pounds of excess product each into the recreational marijuana market. Additionally, the measure would allow cannabis retailers to operate within 1,000 feet of schools if a physical barrier exists to prevent children from wandering onto the premises.

 Florida:

On Thursday, a lawsuit was filed that challenges Florida’s ban on smoking medical marijuana. In June, Governor Rick Scott signed a bill to implement the constitutional amendment passed by voters in November allowing patients with certain debilitating medical conditions to seek treatment with cannabis. Among other restrictions, the bill forbids patients from smoking marijuana.

Critics say that smoking may be the easiest and most effective means of consuming cannabis for patients with ALS and other severe conditions. The suit was brought by a trial lawyer named John Morgan, who was also the leading backer of the 2016 ballot measure.

 Maryland:

On Wednesday, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission approved the first medical marijuana dispensary license in the state. The move allowed the Wellness Institute of Maryland to open its doors effective immediately, though it is not expected to have any product in stock for several months while licenses for growers and distributors are awarded.

Last year, the state awarded 15 preliminary grower licenses and 15 preliminary processor licenses. However, if the state does not provide final licenses by August 15, the Commission could revoke their permission to operate in Maryland. The Wellness Institute began taking pre-orders on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan overhauled the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission by appointing 10 new members to the 16-member panel. The Commission has been criticized for failing to get the state’s medical cannabis system off the ground and potentially abusing taxpayer funds while awarding contracts to outside consulting groups.

5 Ways To Infuse That Fancy Cheese Plate With Marijuana

Danielle Guercio
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5 Ways To Infuse That Fancy Cheese Plate With Marijuana

Making a cheese plate for a cannabis connoisseur is definitely limited to what you can have with your cheese. Adding cannabis to cheese is much trickier than dosing all of your accoutrement. Hopefully one day we find a way to have medicated cheeses that don’t get any dairy animals high in the process.

The best lazy-fancy dinner is the cheese plate. Stocking up on little pleasures like nuts, gherkins, jams and olives can make the mundane into the supreme as quickly as you can slice some smoked Gouda. For optimal variety, always choose cheeses of different hardness and undertones, and don’t underestimate cheeses that seem unfriendly to non-savory pairing, like pecorino or feta.

Photo by Danielle Guercio

Make The Most Of Mustard

Gourmet-ify and add that bitter and spice hit that is so necessary with medicated mustard. Simply add a dash (¼ oz or so) of glycerin tincture* to your favorite kind.

The sweetness will amp up the taste and be slightly reminiscent of a honey mustard. It will play that much more harmoniously with nutty, milky cheeses like raclette and Swiss.

Photo by Danielle Guercio

Olives Are Essential Eats

Quick tapenade is had by simply mashing all of the things you’d like to add to compliment olives. Cannahacking it happens when you add a shot (1 oz) of cannabis olive oil* to the blend. Add garlic cloves, herbs, and mash in a mortar until you have the paste of the gods.

Photo by Danielle Guercio

Turn Up The Jam

Sweet things go with cheese plates like beer and pizza. Peach and raspberry are excellent store bought. That’s where you add a smidge (1/8th oz per ½ cup) of glycerin tincture* to the jam. Spoon onto funky cheeses like Brie.

Photo by Danielle Guercio

CannaCrackers

We’ve covered crackers before, stuffed with cheese and olives, but they’re such a simple recipe that becoming proficient is really a worthy skill.

You can use any cannabis oil or butter* you have on hand to make crackers for your cheese plate. Within 30 minutes and with literally any combination of herbs, spices, or oil that you’re into.

Photo by Danielle Guercio

Nuts For Hash Nuts

Make a standard candied nuts recipe, throw in some decarboxylated concentrate, hash, or kief at the end. Boom. Just keep the dosing chill if you want to be able to actually munch them.

*Cannabis Infused Liquids

Decarboxylate 3.5g of finely ground cannabis at 225 degrees for 20 minutes in a tightly sealed, oven safe container. Put in lidded mason jar or vacuum sealed bag with cannabis and four ounces of desired base. Heat in water bath just under boiling for at least 1 hour. Strain and chill to use in recipes.

Photo by Danielle Guercio

Upgrade your cheese plate to the outer limits with these tips, you won’t regret it and if you medicate gently, you can eat the entire thing if you are into that sort of thing. Not only will this plate be seemingly bougie and high end, it will be full of the cannabinoids that can make your smile wider and laugh louder. Who doesn’t want to laugh over a cheese plate with friends?

Photos: Danielle Guercio

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