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Old School Marijuana Is Out With The New Generations

Things are different for Gen Z and Millennials with how they live/function, now they are changing cannabis

Millennials started upending the work and home environments and then Gen Z joined in.  Gone are meeting in bars, speed dating and hello Bumble, Hinge and Twitter.  Millennials speak up and are not afraid to share their views and opinions.  They believe in a more just, inclusive world and global friends.  They want to work at home, have starter kits for dinner and enjoy each day a bit more. It seems even old school marijuana is out with the new generations.

Well, thanks to a new study, they are moving the cannabis world into a new era.  They have revolutionized tech, social change, the LGBT world, dating, food delivery and service and more.  They want to experience life, go to concerts and see the world.  Convinence (except maybe in craft cocktails) is a part of the world so they can take more in. Now they are having an impact on what is produced in marijuana.

vaping
Photo by Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

The generations, especially the younger ones are slowly turning away from alcohol and taking up legal marijuana. They now account for 72.1% of all tracked cannabis sales in Canada and 63% in the U.S., according to a report from data analytics firm Headset.

RELATED: Pickle Ball Season is Near – You Might Want Some Cannabis or CBD Near

The imagine of the stoner rolling a blunt is still strong in the cannabis culture and most hard liners against use it as a warning sign. But they day of “hippie” is about as relevant at the fax.  The industry is driven by more Wall Street guys and mom and pop owners rather than the long haired uber-aficionado who has made it part of their future.

A big change is Gen Z consumers are flocking vape pens, accounting for 33.6% of their total sales. They are the first demographic to put a flower down and pick up something easy, quick, and easy to store after a hit or two.

Older and traditional consumers generally prefer flower and edibles, while younger, new consumers are drawn towards vapes, pre-rolls and concentrates. These are easier to share and more convenient for an on the go lifestyle.  Pre-legalization, people shared how they rolled their first doobie with flower or baked homemade “special” brownies.  Since it is legal, you just go in and buy what you want to fit your need.

Today, Gen Z and Millennials’s group activities include concerts, trips and dodgeball. They want product they can share, pack, reuse and have with them discreetly.

RELATED: Consuming At Summer Concerts

So, if you want to be an early wave rider, consider changing up your habits, sharing and embracing the future!

Exclusive: #3 In Senate Talks About SAFER Banking

Once again, Congress is working to pass SAFER Banking, a much needed boost to the cannabis industry.  Not only would SAFER Banking provide secure ways to move legal money, it would bring them deeper into the mainstream economy like alcohol and tobacco. Being less prone to dramatics, it is important the Senate talks about Safe Banking and pushes it through.

While this is the third attempt, it has garnered key allies like Senator Patty Murray, who is the 3rd in line for the presidency and has chaired the powerful Appropriations committee.  She known for speaking softly and carrying big influence.

The Fresh Toast Founder/ Publisher JJ McKay and Senator Patty Murray

“It makes absolutely no sense that legal cannabis businesses in states like Washington are forced to operate entirely in cash—and it’s dangerous to their employees, their businesses, and our neighborhoods,” said Senator Murray. “I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation that would bring legal cannabis businesses into the formal banking system, where they belong—making our communities safer and providing much-needed relief to these small businesses and their customers. Let’s make this the Congress where we finally pass this legislation into law—and let’s get it done as soon as possible.”

In speaking with her team and this media outlet, she reasserted her position of support and reasoning.  She states the bill is bipartisan, which is critical to its passing. Senator Murray is joined by Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate who has voiced his own support of the bill.

RELATED: Consumers show industry potential in 4/20 marijuana sales

Along with Senator Murray, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Steve Daines (R-MT), and U.S. Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH-14) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFER) Banking Act of 2023. The bill would ensure that legal cannabis businesses would have access to critical banking and financial services.

 

The SAFER Banking Actof 2023 would prevent federal banking regulators from:

  • Prohibiting, penalizing or discouraging a bank from providing financial services to a legitimate state-sanctioned and regulated cannabis business, or an associated business (such as a lawyer or landlord providing services to a legal cannabis business);
  • Terminating or limiting a bank’s federal deposit insurance primarily because the bank is providing services to a state-sanctioned cannabis business or associated business;
  • Recommending or incentivizing a bank to halt or downgrade providing any kind of banking services to these businesses; or
  • Taking any action on a loan to an owner or operator of a cannabis-related business.

RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

The cannabis industry has been bedeviled by a surplus of flower, over taxation along with the same trouble of the mainstream industry such as finding staff. The SAFER Banking act would be a blessing for both the industry and the states who are driving strong revenue from legal sales.

 

NCAA Makes Move On Marijuana!

 

The National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA) is a major player in sports. In 2022, they helped 520,000 students in athletic college programs compete. That includes over 1,100 schools with 19,000+ teams. They are a non-profit footprint covering the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands. With such a large group, you wonder if the NCAA will make a move on marijuana.

In 2019, pre-pandemic in person turmoil, just NCAA Division 1 sports generated $15.8 billion in revenue.  Colleges with football teams can expect to earn an average of $31.9 million per school. The average March Madness game had 10 million viewers. There are dozens of NCAA videos games helping drive the non-profit’s $900+ million budget.

So, they are a slow organization that is slow to changes. The President is former governor and GOP member Charlie Baker.  He is a republican when the Grand Old Party in congress is glacially moving toward  a more modern and data approach to marijuana.

So it is a big deal when a NCAA panel is calling for the association to remove cannabis from its banned drug list and testing protocols. The testing has been in place since 1986. The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, said testing should be limited to performance-enhancing drugs and found that cannabis does not enhance performance.

Just WOW.

football
Photo by Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd/Getty Images

The committee also requested the NCAA to halt testing for cannabis at championship events while changes are considered. No decision has been made, but will be reviewed.

RELATED: How To Be Discreet When Using Weed

Reason for considering the change was informed by the December 2022 Summit on Cannabinoids in College Athletics and includes the consensus opinion that cannabis is not a performance-enhancing drug and a harm reduction approach to cannabis is best implemented at the school level. Additional rationale included:

  • Focusing on testing for substances that provide an unfair advantage by enhancing athletic performance.
  • Shifting toward a harm reduction philosophy for cannabis, similar to the approaches taken with alcohol.
  • Realigning toward institutional testing and how that testing supports/enhances campus efforts to identify problematic cannabis use.
  • Educating student-athletes on the health threats posed by contemporary cannabis and methods of use.
  • Identifying and explaining relevant harm reduction/mitigation strategies to those student-athletes who choose to legally consume cannabis.
The US Is About To Be Sandwiched Between Two Countries With Legal Weed — Is It Next?
Photo by Carol Yepes/Getty Images

 

RELATED: 8 Ways to Enjoy Marijuana Without Smoking It

To be removed from the NCAA list of banned drugs, the three NCAA divisional governance bodies would have to introduce and adopt legislation. The NCAA is reviewing this and will make a final decision in the fall.

Marijuana At Summer Concerts

 

 

The summer concert season has started and 25% of us will get their jam on over the next couple of months!  Millennials (36%) and Gen Z (32%) are making it a cornerstone activity.  Taylor Swift, the Boss, Lynyrd Skynryd and more will be on stage as millions are ready to dance to their favorite heady beats. Pop concerts are the most popular and most lucrative for concert promoters and stars. Outdoor summer concerts have been roaring back since Covid and people are flocking to them no matter what the ticket price.  The average cost on tickets have gone up and a Taylor Swift concert can set you back $1,500+ for an average seat. With potential travel, wardrobe and more it can be an expensive experience. But what about marijuana at summer concerts?

A majority of cannabis consumers believe marijuana enhances the quality of the music. The idea of being outdoor wrapped up in the music that dances lightly across you soul is undeniable. We have some tips.

group of people celebrating occassion

First thing to remember is the rules of the place and venue. While recreational marijuana is legal in 34 states, it isn’t in 16…know where you are. Live Nation is the largest concert company in the US and Canada. They clearly state items not permitted include weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs/substances, glass containers, cans, hard sided/large coolers, large or oversized bags/back-packs, laser pointers, animals (except service animals) and fireworks.

Why someone would bring an animal is a question, but it goes to how people think.  Edibles, oils and vapes are the easiest.  Guards could stop your pre-roll and trying to do a bong or bowl is just a lot of extra work.

Second, be considerate of the people around you. People have spent a lot of cash (or credit) to immerse themselves in the musical atmosphere and they may not want to have a surprise smell.  For your private journey, consider edibles, vaping, or oils. Super easy to bring in most things.  You can put it in a purse, pocket, Tic Tac container, disguised as gum, etc. Thanks to the big investment by cigarette companies, some vape pens interchangeable between cannabis and tobacco.

RELATED: How To Be Discreet When Using Weed

Next, timing is everything. You don’t want to show up at security flying too high because it might lead to problems. Think of the timing and be ready for when the main show hits the stage.  For vaping, not a problem, for edibles, you need a bit more planning. And you don’t want to overindulge so you can enjoy the rhythm in your soul and craft a memory.

CBD Edibles Not All They Claim To Be
Photo by IRA_EVVA/Getty Images

RELATED: Pickle Ball Season Is Near – You Might Want Some Cannabis or CBD Near

The good thing with marijuana it tends to mellow you, so you can relax and just focus on the beat, the moment and the experience.  Have fun, be safe and enjoy the summer of music.

Summer injury? Medical Marijuana Could Help!

 

Summer is the here and the time to enjoy the outdoors!  Going on a picnic, a boat cruise, a bike ride, a hike, a swim – all great activities.  Taking a stroll in the neighborhood, pickle ball tournaments or just having a bbq.  All part of summer fun. But researchers concluded individuals are  at a higher risk of injury during these months due to an increase in daylight hours and popular outdoor activities.  Have a summer injury? Medical marijuana can help.

As kids we never let the fear of an accident stop us from trying new things, maybe a chill attitude can help maintain that as we age.

Better With Marijuana
Photo by Christopher Jolly via Unsplash

The biggest way cannabis can help is with pain. When medical marijuana is used, cannabinoid receptors in your ECS bind with cannabinoids called THC. THC binds with cannabinoid receptors starting an anti-inflammatory response which prevents inflammation and muscle spasms after an injury.

Patients claim that marijuana allows them to resume their previous activities without feeling completely out of it and disengaged. Marijuana is said to be a fantastic muscle relaxant and people swear by its ability to lessen tremors in Parkinson’s disease.

For deep injuries, medical marijuana does little to help since there is not a way for it to reach the pain point.

RELATED: Pickle Ball Season is Near – You Might Want Some Cannabis or CBD Near

For direct injury treatment, think of applying straight  to the muscle area. Topicals, balms or cremes are rich cannabinoid-infused products designed to be applied to sore and aching muscles. Be sure to read the label carefully. Depending on their formulation, some THC topicals could impart psychoactive effects, while most will not.

As with tinctures, vapes can be used to dispense high-THC cannabis to your whole system and is a gentle and effective way to address aches, strains, and muscular pain.

Medical Marijuana Is Too Strong For Pain Relief, Says Researchers
Photo by roungroat via rawpixel

For twisted back, ankles, hands and other joint areas, consider the bigger picture. Follow your doctor’s advice and recommendations for handling sprains will suggest heat, ice and a few days of bed rest. Some my suggest prescription painkillers but be warned narcotic drugs are potent and addictive. Medical marijuana can be a sound alternative with an edible, a vape or an oil.  It can make recovery much quicker.

RELATED: Do You Get High On Medical Marijuana?

Enjoy the sun, enjoy the summer, and make sure you have a bit of cannabis in case something goes wrong.

MMA (Or Cage Fighting) And Marijuana

 

According to InsideSport, over 300 million people follow MMA closely.  You may not be one of those, and ask what is MMA and is it like cage fighting?  Well, yes.  MMA is the extreme sports  of mixed martial arts.  A marriage of techniques including boxing, wrestling and martial arts are used in a cage until a winner is declared. Crazy popular and leaking into other references, we have to ask – what about MMA (or cage fighting) and marijuana?

Overseeing it all is Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), an American mixed martial arts promotion company based in Las Vegas. They are the global leader in MMA promotions.  Zuffa is the parent company which is owned by Endeavor Group Holdings.

MMA is about as dangerous as any other full contact sport. MMA athletes can receive the same injuries as players in sports such as hockey and football, including sprains, broken bones and concussions. The difference is the intensity of one on one combat versus two teams.

So do MMA fighters use marijuana or at least medical marijuana? Heck yes.

In 2020, 45.9% of MMA fighters used the plant to improve their mental and physical skills, recover from intense workouts, and heal from injuries or soreness. Around 76.5% report to using CBD for these same types of benefits.

In January of 2021, UFC and the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced a significant change to the UFC’s anti-doping program. Updated rules went into effect on 1 January 2021 and said athletes will no longer be punished for testing positive for marijuana, specifically THC.

Prior to the change, athletes were only tested for marijuana in-competition around a fight but there were threshold levels in place and a positive test above that limit resulted in a doping violation. Now under the new rules, fighters will no longer be punished for testing positive for marijuana unless their is evidence the substance was taken for performance-enhancing purposes.

“It’s really, as with everything we do with this program, it’s science-based,” UFC senior vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky told MMA Fighting.

Increasingly, professional athletes in sports ranging from football to bicycling to long-distance running have turned to using cannabis to reduce pain from post-game injuries and to help speed recovery.  Medical marijuana can help with pain, swelling and injury recovery.

RELATED: Marijuana And Athletes – What You Should Know

Cage fighting has become such a popular and mainstream sport, Twitter owner Elon Musk challenged Meta Founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg to a MMF fight.  Musk seemed surprised with the martial arts expert Zuckerberg seemed to accept.  While Musk is a fan of marijuana, not sure Zuckerberg will use it for his fight recovery.

New York Regulators Want Marijuana Patients To Be Able To Grow Their Own Weed
Photo by 2H Media via Unsplash

RELATED: Are This Many NFL Players Really Using Marijuana?

UFC is part of the combined William Morris Agency and Endeavor Talent Agency new holding company. Endeavor Group Holdings represents artists in film, television, music, theater, digital media, and publishing and represents the NFL and the NHL. They also own  Professional Bull Riders (PBR). A deal to purchase WWE and merge it with UFC is expected to be completed in the second half of 2023. Endeavor is headed by CEO Ari Emanuel whose brother Rahm Emanuel was mayor of Chicago and Chief of Staff to President Obama.

 

Dangerous Snails, Flesh Eating Seaweed? Florida Needs Marijuana

 

Giant vicious snails, hurricanes, and flesh eating seaweed washing up on huge swaths of coastline, are just some of the newer issues Florida is facing. Florida is beset with plagues this summer. Perhaps it is a mystical sign to listen to the people. And maybe Florida needs legal marijuana!

Florida citizens went to the ballot a second time in 2016 and voted to approve medical marijuana. Despite winning a marjority in the previous election, Governor Ron DeSantis said it didn’t count, in 2016, 71% of the voters said they wanted medical marijuana. Since the vote, the Governor and legislature have been dragging thier heels on implementation. Maybe this is why nature is punishing the state with some downright weird things.

 

Florida is an odd place, between the hashtag #floridaman and the south part of the state having pythons who EAT alligators, you expect it to be a bit “different”. But currently they have two (sort of three) crazy things which could be seen as divine punishment. The first is the sargassum belt, a 5,000-mile-long snake of seaweed circling Florida. This April, sargassum levels in the Caribbean Sea reached a new record, with the belt growing to an estimated 13 million tons, according to a bulletin from the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography lab. It has starting to wash up on the tourist-oriented shores of the Sunshine State. Researchers said combined with the Florida sun, it could be a perfect environment for vibrio bacteria to cultivate, which can cause flesh-eating infections.  This is doesn’t count the smelly mess stretched across the golden goose of the state’s economy.

Hurricane season is here and already there is one brewing the Atlantic. Florida has been hit so hard  property insurance rates are predicted to jump at least 40 percent this year, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Next is snails, large 8-inch ugly snails. They are a species of invasive giant African land snail which can transmit a parasite and do massive amounts of agricultural damage. Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services ordered a community to be placed under quarantine. The agency shared the species is “one of the most damaging snails in the world, consuming at least 500 different types of plants” and can reportedly eat plastic, street signs, stucco, and other inorganic material. Their shells are reportedly able to puncture car tires.

Florida has had snails (frogs), darkness (hurricanes & hail), locusts (sargassum).  In the original Bilble story what is left is water to blood, flies, boils, locusts, and the death of the firstborn.  Voters should be paying attention before the next one hits.

RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

A constitutional amendment to legalize the recreational use of marijuana could be on the Florida ballot next year. The proposed amendment is generating support.  But The Tallahassee Democrat reported Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody moved to block a recreational marijuana initiative from the 2024 Florida ballot.  Many saw the effort as the attorney general preparing the field for a Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential campaign.

Ancient Chinese Tomb Shows Evidence Of Cannabis Use
Photo by CRYSTALWEED cannabis via Unsplash

RELATED: The Imagine Of Today’s Marijuana User Is Not What You Think

Perhaps the Governor and the state governing bodies should just listen the people and provide what was legally voted and approved for the government to fulfill.

Is Dank Marijuana Right For Me?

 

Cambert, limburger, raclette, are among the most fragrant cheeses. Uniquely aromatic broccoli, fish oil, truffles, and Andouilette de Troyes/chitterlijngs all have a following among the food crowd.  And in the cannabis world, you have dank marijuana.

To the canna curious or canna newbie, you might not know what dank is and are highly curious, well it is the more pungent of the marijuana options. Dank is sticky and slightly moist, when you are first introduced, you discover a distinct smell that registers in your mind. It is chill, whether indica, sativa or somewhere in between.

Like other odiferous foods, it can be an acquired taste, but some marijuana consumers are HUGE fans – not unlike the craze around truffles.

 

Photo by Flickr user Dank Depot

Science News shared study conducted by cannabis industry researchers which confirmed marijuana contains sulfur. And like eggs, a little goes a long way. But for connoisseurs, that is part of the use journey and a sign of true authenticity.

Dank weed is cured perfectly, retaining the plants humidity and stickiness. When lightly squeezed, it should emit a smell uniquely. out of this world. Dankness means heady buds that don’t crumble when broken apart and don’t tear like a flimsy branch either. Dank is not exclusive to cannabis flower, fragrant cannabis concentrates and extracts can also be dank.  But, vape pens, topicals, and edibles are not dank because they don’t emit odor.

RELATED: How To Be Discreet When Using Weed

There is now also dank beer. Cannabis and humulus (hops) are two types of the relatively small family of Cannabaceae, they basically are close cousins. Because of this, hops and some beers can have a strong dank smell which appeals to some beer drinkers.  It should also remind you of the relationship between the two.

cannabis smell terpenes
Photo by Sharon Mccutcheon / EyeEm/Getty Images 

 

RELATED: 8 Ways to Enjoy Marijuana Without Smoking It

Dank is also a slang cannabis term that means excellent. If you are new and expanding your  marijuana experience, it could be worth a try to discover if you like it or at least have a base reference.  Showing the power and the following of dank, Amazon sells a car freshener with the smell!

Hunter Biden, The Marijuana Movement, And The 2nd Amendment

Hunter Biden has been convicted  – but will it lead to a discussion about marijuana and guns?

 

Hunter Biden reached a plea agreement with federal authorities in which he will plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay his taxes. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend probation, while a separate gun charge will probably be dismissed if he meets conditions in a pretrial diversion program.  Federal law says if you have a marijuana conviction, you can’t have a gun, but it is being challenged in court.  Could Hunter Biden be the new face for pro-Second Amendment advocates?

The legal marijuana industry was worth $28 billion in 2022, with an expectation to rise in 2023.  Currently, 23 states have recreational and 40 have medical with over 48 million Americans consuming cannabis annually. It is becoming a big business with mainstream companies like Constellation, Miracle Grow, AmeriGas and other either investing, partnering or being a vendor to the multi-billion dollar industry.

Federal law says if you USE marijuana, you are prohibited from owning a gun.  This means if you have medical marijuana or in a legal state, you can lose your gun control rights for consuming, not selling or committing a crime, just having an edible every so often.  This includes medical marijuana.  To be clear, you can use alcohol and own a gun, you could be drinking a beer when you buy a gun.

Unfortunately for the Department of Justice (DOJ), the rule is being challenged again and again in regional courts.  Case relied on U.S. Supreme Court precedent finding any firearm restrictions must be consistent with the historical 1791 context of the Second Amendment’s ratification. Last June, the Supreme Court undid decades of lower-court jurisprudence about the Second Amendment. In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen

Most recently, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas has delivered a win to an El Paso resident who was convicted of separate charges for possessing and transferring a firearm in 2021 while admitting to being a cannabis consumer. Judge Cardone granted a motion for reconsideration of the case and later dismissed the charges.

RELATED: ATF Says Yes To Guns Unless, You Know, Cannabis

Second Amendment advocates while open to marijuana, have not reached a consensus on whether to support gun rights for those who use hard drugs, according to Joseph Greenlee, the director of constitutional studies at the pro-Second Amendment Firearms Policy Coalition. Greenlee, whose group argued on the plaintiff’s side in Range v. Attorney General, said his group believes that people who use marijuana shouldn’t be banned from buying guns.

A Right-Leaning Supreme Court Won't Impede Cannabis Reform, Legal Experts Say
Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm via Unsplash

RELATED: Why Gen Z Is Putting Down The Beer And Picking Up Marijuana

Given the conflicting rulings in the lower courts, the Supreme Court may one day have to resolve the statute’s constitutionality.  Hunter Biden’s high profile and the years long discussion around the charges will, not doubt, be pulled into the discussion of the law.

how the court’s conservative majority would view the issue. Jacob Charles, a professor at Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law who studies gun laws, said that Justice Samuel Alito could be particularly ambivalent.

“I could see him going either way,” Charles said, “obviously in favor of gun rights, but also in favor of strong law enforcement.”

Currently, the two tiered system of justice is difficult for the general population and those suffering for medical marijuana, a proven medical benefit.

 

Hospice and Medical Marijuana, Help At The End

 

 

When the time of passing is close, emotions run high. When hospice if involved, it helps, but the pain of upcoming loss and all the unresolved issues are still left.  In the US, people are taught to believe in happy endings.  Generations have watched television shows and movies where in 30, 60 or 120 minutes all the issues are resolved and there is a last minute confession and a rebounding moment.  Real life is neither as clean or as happy. With hospice and medical marijuana, it can help at the end of the journey.

In the moments with palliative or hospice care, anything that can help makes a difference.

a building with two windows and a sign that says hospital hospital

 

RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

Palliative care is medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Patients in palliative care may receive medical care for their symptoms, or palliative care, along with treatment intended to cure their serious illness.

Hospice care focuses on the care, comfort, and quality of life of a person with a serious illness who is approaching the end of life. Hospice is prescribed when a path to cure has come to an end and the focus changes to focus making the patient comfortable until the end. 

Two evidence-based guidelines address the use of medical marijuana in a palliative care setting. The first evidence-based guideline explicitly recommends against the use of medical cannabis as a first or second line option for palliative cancer pain. The guideline suggests that it could be considered in the case of refractory symptoms and with careful consideration of potential risks. The second evidence-based guideline similarly recommends that medical cannabis only be used in the palliative care setting when other treatments have failed, and after consideration of the potential for adverse events and drug interactions.

In study after study, medical marijuana can helps increase appetite, relieve painful constipation, and diminish pain. Hospice focuses on the focus well being, knowing there isn’t a long-term cure. Currently, most science shows medical marijuana manages systems but not resolve an serious ailment or injury.

shallow focus photography of bubble on leaves

Perhaps equally importantly, marijuana is used in the hospice care setting to ease spiritual and existential suffering. Some studies showing an important therapeutic role for patients faced with the despair of a terminal illness, loss of functions, and a lifetime of reflections. A mild euphoria or sense of well-being can ease a patient’s mind, body and spirit as they come to terms with their fate.

In 2019, a study was conducted among hospice professionals. About half of the respondents were nurses followed by administrators and physicians. Regardless of legal status, hospice staff members were overwhelmingly in agreement that medical marijuana is an important tool in supporting their patients.

RELATED: Study: Cannabinoids (THC/CBD) Beat Opioids In Managing Chronic Pain

Though medical marijuana is legal in 40 states, plus the District of Columbia, conflicting federal laws present a challenge for hospice and palliative care programs whose patients are interested in medical cannabis or already using it to manage pain and other symptoms.

The situation is particularly challenging for hospices, which are primarily funded by Medicare. Many hospices say they cannot legally prescribe medical marijuana because it remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law.

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