There is an old joke a guy telling a women alcohol is bad for you if you want to have children and the woman snaps back and says if it wasn’t for alcohol there would be half the number of babies. Science says you shouldn’t drink or use marijuana while pregnant, but what does it say about marijuana and fertility.
Fertility is a fickle thing. fertility is genetic, and there actually are some people who can be classified as super fertile. This is all dependent on sperm and egg health. About 25% of women have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term. And it takes two to have fertility issues. Both men and women can contribute to infertility.
For women, frequent use can cause issues which could tamp down fertility. Consuming as often as three times per week may have impacts says a report published online in the journal Fertility & Sterility Science.Evidence suggests that marijuana can reduce female fertility by disrupting hypothalamic release of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), leading to reduced estrogen and progesterone production and anovulatory menstrual cycles. It can also delay or inhibit ovulation.
Another study’s data showed for each monthly cycle, women who had used cannabis while trying to conceive were 41% less likely to conceive than non-users. Similarly, a smaller proportion of cannabis users than non-users became pregnant during the study — 42% versus 66%. The authors found no differences in miscarriage rates between users and non-users who had achieved pregnancy.
When it comes to guys, consuming seems to a negative impact on male fertility. This study suggests a negligible clinical effect of cannabis use on testicular function. Marijuana use may have a detrimental effect on semen quality, particularly morphology and volume, but maybe protective against abnormal sperm motility. Long-term marijuana use can adversely affects male fertility and has been associated with testicular atrophy, low libido, sexual dysfunction, semen parameters, and reproductive hormone levels
There are few human studies on marijuana and fertility and they are small, nonrandomized and mainly retrospective. What is does say if you are trying to conceive, it might be best to go on a cannabis detox.
Can I get the same gummies on a cross country road trip? Well no, um…maybe
People are getting in their cars or boarding planes and enjoying travel this year. According to the U.S. Travel Association, traveling is up 4% over 2019. Airports were a bit wild on Memorial Day weekend as people want to go and do. But intermingled with new experience people like also find comfort in things they know like Starbucks Coffee, Cracker Barrel breakfast, tried and true fast foods, and favorite edibles.
When you travel, you might find the same edible by the same brand, but is it exactly the same? After all, a Hershey bar in Texas is the same as in Toronto, Honolulu and New York City. It is a complicated answered mired in a slow moving Congress.
Adult-use marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, and interstate commerce between the states regulating the industry is not allowed. Rumors on Capitol Hill say once SAFE Banking passes, interstate commerce will be next. Even if just for connected states like California/Oregon/Washington or New York/New Jersey.
This is a bigger challenge than it seems since federal regulations dictate that legal, regulated cannabis products can only be sold within the same state where they are manufactured, from the seed to grow to the facility where the gummy is produced, packaged and distributed, to the dispensary where you buy the product. Product companies cannot make their products from one hometown facility and then ship the finished product around the world.
This was a tricky situation but early leaders like Dixie Elixers (then known as Dixie Brands) took a page from McDonalds and Burger King and begin finding licensees to make exactly the same product in other states. Sort of a franchise model with tight control over quality.
Now this is tougher than it sounds. Some companies do it very well, think McDonalds. Other companies, like Dairy Queen are a bit more loosey goose.
Colorado based Wana Brands, which prides itself on quality control and has products in 15 states and Canada is more like McDonalds. Wana was sold to Canopy Grow, which has the alcohol giant Constellation Brands behind them. Their CEO, Nancy Whiteman, has the knowledge, runway and strength to ensure quality products from all their production products.
Not every company can do this and it makes it even harder for small startups to succeed. Think building a solid product and having trouble moving it out of your midsized state.
Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels
Another issue is fake products. Green Market Report did an article from industry sources. They share despite the continued prohibition of interstate commerce for cannabis, legally produced and packaged marijuana products from California are increasingly making their way to hundreds of smoke shops and bodegas in New York City. When questioned about where he’d obtained the goods, a proprietor said it from what’s known as a “burner distro” in California. In layman’s terms, he got it from a licensed California distribution company that willingly broke state law by shipping legal cannabis out of state.
It is also rumored some of the “verified California products” sold in NYC are knocks offs. Not unlike the Channel and Guccci bags on Canal Street.
So if you are traveling this summer you have a couple of options. One, try something new or, if you have to have a favorite, go online and see where they sell their product around the US and Canada.
Marijuana is seen as a tool toward enlightenment, but what does Buddhism actually say about it?
Buddhism is not the most popular religion in North American with less 1 percent self identifying, but its ideas permeates our culture. From song lyrics by the Beastie Boys and spiritual themes in Star Wars, to the publicly professed faith of celebrities including Orlando Bloom, Harrison Ford and Richard Gere. Steve Jobs claimed to be a Buddhist. And nothing reflects the imagine of zen, peaceful state of mind than someone consuming marijuana. And, the name Buddha translates to “Awakened One” in Sanskrit.
Photo by Simon Rae via Unsplash
Buddhism isone of the world’s largest religionsand originated 2,500 years ago in India. Buddhists believe that the human life is one of suffering, and that meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good behavior are the ways to achieve enlightenment, ornirvana.
The Four Noble Truths comprise the essence of Buddha’s teachings, though they leave much left unexplained. They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.
Buddhism strongly discourages alcohol and other substances that intoxicates. This is despite the great diversity of Buddhist traditions across various countries. Alcohol has been on the frowned since the beginning of the religion. Consuming marijuana can help you quiet your mind and reach a zen like tranquility or temporary enlightement, but seems to be a bit at odds with Buddhism’s beliefs on intoxicants.
The Dalai Lama isn’t that keen on recreational marijuana use, but the spiritual leader told supporters in Mexico on in 2014 that he supports legal, medicinal marijuana when the drug has been shown to have value.
In Buddhism, the Fifth Precept is frequently interpreted to mean “refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to heedlessness”, although in some direct translations, the Fifth Precept refers specifically to alcohol. Cannabis and some other psychoactive plants are specifically prescribed in the MahākālaTantra for medicinal purposes.
Medical marijuana has converts from all walks of like and Buddhism is one of its fans. Consider the healing nature, fewer side effects and low cost, Buddhist appreciate the prop tiers of cannabis.
Medical marijuana can help many aliments – but does work with dementia?
Nothing is more heartbreaking than watching someone we love suffer from dementia. While the face is the same, the mind and essence behind it slowly fades away. More than 8 million people had dementia in 2020. If current demographic and health trends continue, more than 10 million Canadians and Americans could have dementia by 2030 and nearly 12 million by 2040.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are different. Dementia is a general term used to describe symptoms that impact memory, performance of daily activities, and communication abilities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease gets worse with time and affects memory, language, body functions and thought.
Is medical marijuana helpful with this horrible disease? Can it provide help to the patient and be an additional tool for the caregiver?
Photo by monicore via Pixabay
So far, medical marijuana is not a breakthrough for dementia. Little research has been done or shown that is makes a major different in the progression of the disease. But there are glimmers of hope in managing some of the more difficult symptoms.
Dementia can affect a person’s personality and habits, which may lead to changes in behavior. They may become more anxious, aggressive, and confused. A few clinical trials have identified that medical marijuana can help manage behavioural symptoms in people with dementia, including agitation and aggression, but only in some cases.
There is also potential help with sundowning. Restlessness, agitation, irritability, or confusion can begin or worsen as daylight begins to fade, often just when tired caregivers need a break. Sundowning can continue into the night, making it hard for people with Alzheimer’s to fall asleep and stay in bed. Medical marijuana and cbd can be used to help with sleep and fighting insomnia.
A recent study also shows cannabis may be helpful in treating vascular dementia, which is a neurodegenerative disorder that often occurs along with Alzheimers. Vascular dementia is characterized by a lack of adequate blood flow to the brain, which leads to the death of cells. By activating the brain’s CB2 cannabinoid receptors, it may be possible to recover blood flow to the brain for a period of time.
Some research has shown low doses of THC can help restore some memory and learning levels in mice. The changes resulted from administering low doses of THC occurred because they affected the hippocampus. However, there is currently no research that studies this possible link between marijuana and dementia in humans.
The brain is a complex mystery and more research is being to understand how it functions. Organizations like the Allen Institue, are committed to unlocking the mysteries and possiblities of the brain.
A bit of caution about heavy marijuana habits. A study from the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease showed that marijuana users, when compared to non-marijuana users, had low blood flow in the hippocampus. The belief is that chronic marijuana use may block activity in this part of the brain, and it may damage areas of the brain that are pivotal to learning and memory.
Elizabeth Holmes bilked investors for billions, promoted bad medicine and then played the victim…good thing she wasn’t caught with marijuana or she would be in trouble!
Elizabeth Holmes was the darling of Silicon Valley founding Theranos, a startup that soared in value, which she claimed would revolutionize blood testing. Holmes raised $945 million from high-profile investors including the family of former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Rupert Murdoch and the Walton family of Walmart fame. Trouble begin with a much touted partnership with Walgreens that ultimately lead to the exposure the company never did what it claimed. Holmes first said she was innocent, then she stated she was simple pawn my her COO he made her break the law. Once convicted, she said she it would be hard to go to jail because she now volunteered and has kids. Working with the New York Times, she expressed she wants to put everything behind her, go by Liz, and really just get on with her life. The New York Times laid it out for people to “get her” and understand it was time to just move on. Elizabeth Holmes should be happy she wasn’t busted for marijuana!
The Federal government disagrees and she is due for prison. Well sort of prison. She is going to Federal Camp Prison (FCP) Bryan, one of the best prisons to serve time.
Elizabeth, or Liz, should be grateful she swindled billions and endangered peoples lives, imagine if she had been caught with marijuana. Drug possession is still the number one cause of arrest. The highest number of arrests were for drugs (estimated at 1,552,432 arrests) followed by driving under the influence (estimated at 1,282,957). In March of 2021, statisticians from the BJS released a new report using data gathered in 2018 stating about 32,000 people are in jail due to marijuana.
Black people are still more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people in every state, including those that have legalized marijuana.
A little over two-thirds (70.1%) were sentenced to prison; the average sentence imposed was five months. A majority are served in local jails instead of prison. Local jails have few exercise facilities, overcrowding and poor food options.
Holmes potential new residence is FPC Bryan which offers a wide range of recreational activities, including organized and unorganized games such as table tennis. Other recreational activities include a gym for physical fitness, music programs, intramural activities, and social and cultural activities. Additionally, there are art and hobby craft classes as well.
Photo by FatCamera/Getty Images
The Last Prisoner Project says imagine sitting in a cell for years, decades, or even for life, convicted of an activity that is no longer a crime, while thousands of other people build intergenerational wealth doing exactly the same thing. Their goal is to change the system. Holme’s partner and the father of her children is a hotel heir. Her family are part of the private plane set and most likely her grandchildren and great grandchildren will be also. Many who were busted at 22 for drug possession spend a life trying to make a living.
According to Pew Research Center, an overwhelming 88% of U.S. adults say either that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use by adults (59%) or that it should be legal for medical use only (30%). Only one-in-ten (10%) say marijuana use should not be legal. And yet people are arrested every day. Something needs to change.
Cool, crisp, iced summer drinks as a staple of long weekends, hot day and outdoor bbqs. Americans plan to celebrate the long Memorial Day weekend. The top celebration plans include grilling/barbecuing (59%) followed by attending or hosting a party (43%). it seems 46% plan to purchase and drink some alcohol, with beer by far being the top choice. The weather is warm, the sun is out and here are 4 summery marijuana drinks to enjoy.
But what if you want to enjoy the weekend was something cool, refreshing and non alcoholic – but still give you a little something extra. We got you.
A piece of advice, drinks are similar to edibles, so don’t gulp and moderate the marijuana so you can enjoy more than one!
Photo by Glenn Scott Photography/Quarto Publishing Company
It is important to understand not all cannabis is created equal. The strain of cannabis and the type of cannabis product you use will have a substantial impact on the final beverage. For example, if you’re looking to make a drink that will get you high, you’ll want to use a strain containing THC. If you’re looking for a therapeutic beverage to relax without the psychoactive effects, you’ll want to use a strain high in CBD, with little THC.
Cannabis Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
3 cups of water
3 cups of granulated sugar
2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin
2 grams of dried cannabis flower
Directions:
Combine all dry ingredients and place into 3 cups of boiling water for 20 minutes. Let it simmer for 5-6 minutes. Then, empty into a storage container and chill. This will make you the best cannabis simple syrup you ever tasted.
2 tablespoons of cannabis-infused olive oil, coconut oil, or butter
1 teaspoon of chili powder
½ teaspoon of cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Combine, shake and pour over ice.
Ice Tea with a Kick!
In order to brew this tea, start by preparing the infused honey
Place half a cup of water and ½ – ⅓ cup of all-natural honey in a small saucepan and set to medium heat
Add in the amount of tincture you’d like to infuse your honey with. Keep in mind, that the honey will be used for several teas or other recipes, so you want to add 3 or 4 doses (depending on how sweet you like your tea!)
Once the mixture reaches 150℉, stir until all the honey is dissolved into the water
Pour into a glass container and place in the refrigerator for 12 hours in order to solidify
When the infused honey is ready for use, simply brew up a batch of your favorite tea and use spoonfuls of honey to infuse and sweeten it. If you’re feeling adventurous you should try adding sliced fruit to your iced tea for extra flavor. Sliced strawberries, peaches, and lemons go great with cannabis-infused iced tea.
Photo by viennetta/Getty Images
Marijuana Mojito
Ingredients:
5-6 mint leaves
2 tbsp fresh lime juice (juice from approximately half of a medium/large lime)
2 tbsp cannabis-infused lemon simple syrup
½ cup ice
1/2 cup club soda or sparkling mineral water
Directions:
Muddle 3 of the mint leaves and the lime juice in the bottom of your glass. Then add 2 tablespoons canna-infused lemon simple syrup, club soda or sparkling water, and the rest of the mint leaves. Stir to mix thoroughly. Add ice and enjoy
“Wake up and see the sparkle” is a favorite Barbie phrase, but maybe Barbie is so popular and cool because it is a bit of a green sparkle. Barbie should be happy (and her “parent” Mattel) as she earned over $2 billion last year and that doesn’t count anything from the movie released this year. The iconic figure has been everything from a doctor to a disco queen and people continue to adore her.
Of course, with all this pressure to earn, look good and be fabulous, she might take a little time to enjoy an edible and chill out. Ken, for his good looks, perfect hair and just right tan could also quietly use a vape while musing he doesn’t get a house.
The Barbie movie is set to premier in July and clips show it will be a fun ride for viewers. But how chill is the cast?
Six-pack Gosling has made a name in such movies as La La Land, Remember the Titans and Crazy Stupid Love. Unabashedly a fan of marijuana, his picture at Cannes enjoying a joint has become a favorite meme. A fun loving guy given to impulses, he purchased Tagine, a Beverly Hill restaurant, that has become a popular hot spot.
Will Ferrell
Veteran actor Ferrell movies includes Christmas favorite Elf, Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy, and the Lego Movies. He is an SNL alum and he founded the comedy website Funny or Die in 2007 with his writing partner Adam McKay. From consuming with Snoop Dog and Vince Vaughn to being a weed meme regular he is definitely a leading contender for chill awards Our favorite phrase of his is “Smoking weed doesn’t make me a bad person, just like going to church doesn’t make you a good person.”
Margot Robbie
Robbie is an award actress with credits including I, Tonya, The Wolf of Wall Street, Suicide Squad and more. The Australian vocal supporter of human rights, women’s rights, gender equality and LGBT rights stands up for her beliefs. While she hasn’t publicly said anything about cananbis, we know she loves tequila and a good time. In 2016 she opened SNL with a beautiful marijuana flower dress that caught the audience’s attention.
Kate McKinnon
Kate McKinnon was a breakout star of SNL and continues to display her talents in movies and as a writer and as a singer. Her SNL skits has become parts of stoner lore and she has a wide and varied fan base. She does not smoke marijuana but dabbled while at college. She also is not a big drinker, but her comedic talents are intoxicating.
In the pink world of Barbie, everyone is calm, happy and living their best life…sounds like the reason legal recreational cannabis has become so popular. As she would say (and consumer would agree) “Find the beauty in everything you do”.
Making marijuana brownies can be fun – but make sure you don’t overdose
Covid drove people into the kitchen and helped increase cooking and baking skills. Coupled with the mainstreaming of marijuana, more people are curious about making their own edibles. While there are lots of recipes for them, there’s a surprisingly little information out there about the THC process to make sure you don’t over do the amount and make your marijuana brownies too strong.
Here’s a simple set of guidelines to follow when it comes to prepping and consuming your own edibles, because there’s no such thing as having too much information:
Identify How Much THC Is In The Flower You’re Using
Most strains average about 10 percent THC. Strains with 15 – 20 percent are above average and the ones with over 30 percent are often medicinal. Be sure to look up your strain online or ask your about how much THC the strain contains. If in doubt, ask your budtender at the retailer.
Like Sugar and Vanilla, it is about the portions
If your strain has 10 percent THC, then a gram of cannabis contains 100mg of THC. This simple math problem will allow you to know, or to give an educated guess, on how much THC you have per serving.
A good starting point for beginners would be 5 milligrams per serving. Three grams of ground marijuana equals 300 milligrams of THC. If you make 60 cookies, each one will have 5 milligrams of THC and it should turn out right for everyone.
Key Notes!
Citrus is actually one of the most well-known cannabis ‘maskers’ and as a result, it is popular with edibles. Orange chocolate brownie are delicious. Sugar is also really important in masking bitterness. Wash your utensils before and after so that you avoid contamination. Make sure to prop open a window or two because it will get aromatic.
Eating cannabis with protein rich and fatty foods will elongate the effects of marijuana on the body. Eating cannabis in an alcohol base will produce effects with a shorter duration. Keep this in mind when consuming.
if you did it correctly and didn’t make your marijuana brownies too strong, it should be a grand time Patience is a key when consuming an edible. If it’s been two hours since you consumed the edible and you’re still not feeling high, eat something that’s rich in proteins which will kickstart the effect of marijuana. On the other hand, if you’re feeling a little too high, try raising your blood sugar with some OJ or something that’ll get your spirits up.
Concerts, blockbuster movies, sporting events and outdoor bbqs are filled with a crowds having fun and enjoying the moment. Nothing can irritate people more than a weird or funky odor. Axe Body Spray spent a fortune on marketing to let young men know it is good to both look and smell good!
With recreation marijuana legal in 23 states and 40 for medical, more and more people are adding it to their “night out” enjoyment. Conducted by New Frontier Data, a survey revealed that participants between the ages of 18 to 24 largely preferred cannabis to alcohol (69%). Roughly 43+ million adults use cannabis annually. And they are not doing it all alone.
The number one way people consume is through flower. Bowls, bongs, joints are still popular and embrace the “essence” of plant. You can almost smell the history.
The second most popular way is vaping. There was an estimated 55 million e-cigarette users worldwide in 2021. Twenty percent of 18 to 29 year olds use vape products, compared with 16% of those ages 30 to 64, and fewer than 0.5% among those 65 and older. This is a much easier, discreet way to use marijuana, but the question is – does it smell?
Vaping does smell, but the scent doesn’t linger the way it does with joints, bowls and bongs. Rather, the vapor dissipates very quickly, so the odor is gone almost as soon as it appears. In large indoor and definitely outdoor spaces it isn’t as annoying to people around you and much more accommodating so everyone having a good time.
Photo by The Smell of Roses via Pexels
Kim Ring, cannabis publicist and founder of Ring Relations, shared “I think if you are outdoors the smell won’t necessarily carry and be bothersome, but if you are in a small room and smoking a vape pen, there’s a good chance it’ll smell for a short while. It won’t necessarily linger like flower would though. movie theatre is fine honestly. If you go to the movies, take one of the corner seats on the upper level. Personally I have never seen anyone get kicked out for vaping.”
If you are doing an outdoor family reunion, it is a great way to consume without either announcing you use or maybe even having to share!
Scott in Washington says he believes it is odorless and his partner agrees. It is kind to make sure those closest to you agree with the “atmosphere” you create.
It is good manners to think of others as you do things that could impact it, so vaping is a way to enjoy what you want in a crowd without spoiling other people’s fun.
Star Wars Jedi Survivor is out capturing the attention of gamers. Roughly 74% of households have player and 67% of adults find themselves competitively focused on the screen. While the average age is 31, 7% of people over 65 play. Dead Island, MLB the Show, Call of Duty, Hogwarts Legacy and more have millions of eyes fixed on them as you read this.
So how did this group become intwined with marijuana? Gaming and cannabis go together like peanut butter and jelly or cocktails and ice. A survey from Brightfield Group found that 54% of the respondents enjoy consuming cannabis while/before playing video games. They refer to them as Cannagamers.
Cannabis was attested to around 12,000 years ago near the Altai Mountains in Central Asia, and since then, cannabis seeds have accompanied the migration of nomadic peoples. Starting with dice, about 5,000 years ago, gaming and intoxicants have worked together. The thrill of the competition in a relatively safe environment provides a way to let off steam and have a good time. This involved into the gaming mindset up until the invention of the video game. Grog, mead, whiskey, wine were all staples at gaming tables around the world.
The industry around video games has to be careful not to encourage underage use. Especially since it can hamper brain development.
But adult gamers believe consuming cannabis adds benefits. For over 35 years they have combined the two for enjoyment. People are surprised to learn cannabis gets mentioned in games as far back as 1984. When programmers were developing BBS door games and dial-up, modems gave players this rudimentary software to share content. Slick graphics weren’t expected, but instead, users clamored for off-filter premises you couldn’t find at arcades or on Atari cartridges. A title of the era, Drugwars, is a game that lets you play a New York City drug dealer and make piles of cash.
Photo by Pawel Kadysz via Unsplash
So what pulls gamers to cannabis? The THC in cannabis affects the human endocannabinoid system, helping people feel content and relaxed. Cannabis also makes users feel happy and uplifted, boosting their sensory perception at the same time. Also, video games are also meant to make people content, excited, and deeply engaged. So, playing when high is more enjoyable, as the consumer has a sharper perception of art and music in the game.
And gaming and weed cause bursts of dopamine in the human brain. Thus, smoking weed elevates those feelings when you complete a level or get an in-game reward.
