Fact or Fiction – Does Marijuana Increase Your Metabolism

Amy Hansen

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May 18, 2023

Fact or Fiction – Does Marijuana Increase Your Metabolism

Does marijuana make you gain weight or increase your metabolism and decrease your mass?

Summer is upon us and everyone wants to be beach body ready – or at least try to look good! In 2022, we clocked $76 billion in sales in weight loss programs, diet soda and low-calorie frozen food, to gym memberships and more. Everyone wants a silver bullet and the choice du jour is Ozempic, the diabetes drug. From the cabbage diet, to fasting to the gut buster, everyone wants a trick to lose weight. But does marijuana increase your metabolism and you shed pounds?

It is clear alcohol helps gain but what about cannabis? Does it affect your system and your stomach/body size?

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There’s some evidence that cannabis interacts with cannabinoid receptor 1 , which plays a role in metabolism and food intake. High amounts of cannabis appear to increase metabolism and reduce energy storage, resulting in a lower BMI. But like most effective weight tools, it takes time as opposed to sudden weight loss.

Different cannabis strains have different effects on these neurons. “THC may increase appetite, but CBD helps carbohydrate metabolism, fasting insulin, and metabolic function, mitigate and curb cravings—they work synergistically,” says Junella Chin, M.D., an integrative medical physician in New York and California specializing in medical cannabis and osteopathic neuromuscular medicine. “Having a cannabis formulation that is balanced in THC:CBD, or dominantly CBD, is helpful in minimizing the munchies.”

In 2013, the American Journal of Science released a report that noted the low prevalence of obesity in cannabis users despite an abundance of empirical and anecdotal evidence linking marijuana users to high caloric diets. According to the study, “the most important finding is that current users of marijuana appeared to have better carbohydrate metabolism than nonusers,” Murray Mittleman, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the lead author of the study, told Time. “Their fasting insulin levels were lower, and they appeared to be less resistant to the insulin produced by their body to maintain a normal blood-sugar level.

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What about “the munchies” the long-standing association between weed and snacking.

A study showed an increase in sales of “junk” food, largely defined as chips, cookies, and ice cream, in U.S. states where cannabis is now legal.

However, you should keep in mind that correlation doesn’t mean causation. Just because there was increase in sales of these foods where cannabis is legal doesn’t mean that the cannabis was responsible.

Body maintenance is tough thing and you should should consult your physician before you start a significant weight loss program. Changing your body takes time and you should never expect large changes in a short period of time. And it is not healthy for you system. Exercise, a sound diet and sleep are key factors to maintain a healthy body.

Nauseous, Marijuana Might Provide Immediate Relief

Amy Hansen

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May 17, 2023

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Nauseous, Marijuana Might Provide Immediate Relief

Summer upends our schedules with late night sunset suppers, spicy food, walks in the and more – but does your stomach pay a price?

It is the time of year from vacations, boating, garden and all sorts of fun – but some will have summer tummy and suffer from nausea and more. Nothing is worse being sick in during the warm “outdoor” months and missing out from all the excitement.

Summer triggers of nausea include dehydration, fatty and spicy foods, eating late in the evening, consuming fast food or street food, leading to food poisoning, and exposure to sun rays. But if you are nauseous, marijuana might provide immediate relief.

As scientific evidence around the therapeutic benefits of cannabis continue, nausea is one of the areas marijuana is known to be effective. Research has shown that an active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), effectively reduces nausea and vomiting including people undergoing chemotherapy.

Understanding Nausea

Nausea is a relatively common ailment. Nonetheless, it is often difficult to treat using conventional methods like herbal remedies and prescription pharmaceuticals.

Most conventional antiemetic products have fairly mild side effects, but also tend to offer limited relief for treating nausea and are not effective for all patients. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and acupressure show little evidence of dangerous side effects, but offer limited effectiveness.

A study conducted by team of researchers at the University of New Mexico found that cannabis flower and concentrates are effective in providing relief for the symptoms of nausea. The study reviewed data collected via the Releaf App and found that more than 96% of individuals in the study reported symptom relief. In fact, subjects disclosed a decrease in nausea severity by almost 4 points on visual analogue scale from 0-10 within an hour of consumption.Interestingly enough, symptom relief became statistically significant after only 5 minutes, and continued to increased over time.

“Our results show that cannabis is used to treat nausea with a high rate of effectiveness,” said Sarah See Stith, an economics assistant professor at UNM who co-led the study alongisde Jacob Vigil, psychology associate professor at UNM.

However, she warned, “concerns exist that its effectiveness relative to conventional options may induce high-risk populations, such as pregnant women and children, to consume cannabis.”

Prior to this study, the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) had already included cannabinoids in its list of the strongest available agents for chemotherapy-induced nausea. The UNM study confirmed that cannabis is an effective and fast-acting treatment for feelings of nausea.

Study Finds Marijuana 25% Stronger Now Than Five Decades Ago — Photo by Cavan Images/Getty Images

Findings suggest that the vast majority of patients using cannabis as a treatment for nausea likely experience relief within a relatively short time span.

It should be noted, however, that the level of effectiveness varies according to the characteristics of the products consumed. The most effective products for immediate relief appear to be cannabis flower and concentrates, labeled as C. sativa or a hybrid. Smoking is associated with greater symptom relief compared to pipes or vaporizers, although the gap narrowed over time. You can also do an oil/sublingual. High THC / low CBD ratios were generally associated with greater symptom relief in a short period of time, such as 5 minutes.

The FDA see the scientific connection between cannabis and nausea relief enough to have approved two medications based on synthetic cannabinoids for managing chemotherapy-induced nausea. Natural cannabis, with its full complement of compounds, may be more effective, with fewer side effects and complications.

F1 Racing And Marijuana

Terry Hacienda

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May 17, 2023

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F1 Racing is a thrilling, by the second event with superstars like Lewis Hamilton, Michèle Mouton, Alain Prost and more. The global audience for Formula One in 2021 stood at 445 million viewers. From Oklahoma City to Monaco, fans rise early and are glued to the screens to watch the races. But what about F1 racing and marijuana?

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List identifies marijuana and cannabinoids as substances that are prohibited in-competition. Unless an athlete has an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption , the use of substances when they are prohibited in sport may lead to an anti-doping rule violation and sanction. This puts it in the same line as alcohol, which seems very fair.

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile(FIA) was founded in 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users. It is the governing body for many auto racing events, including Formula One. According to their regulations, F1 drivers are not permitted to use marijuana either during races or in between them. The main problem with their rules comes in with the random tests. FIA conducts random tests of its racers to establish that they are sober (marijuana and alcohol) to follow anti-doping regulations. FIA delegates once stated that they were sure racers abstain from any form of drugs because of the awareness of the risks it would pose to drive a car under the influence. Historically, F1 racing and marijuana have not be in sync.

It is essential to note that FIA follows the restricted substance list provided by WADA. Alcohol (ethanol) is prohibited In-Competition only. With CBD’s removal from the prohibited list, racers can use CBD compounds between races. Since CBD is solely responsible for helping with stress and other bodily issues, it would be a safer and legal way for them to deal with stress.

There is also the option of CBD oils, balms, capsules, and more. By using these pure CBD products, F1 racers can work on their stress and body aches without violating WADA’s restrictions on anti-doping.

Like firefighters, cops, the military and school teachers, F1 racers encounter stresses in their day-to-day lives. Their jobs are not only risky, but they have them packed with adrenaline that could take a toll on anyone’s life. The FIA stringently follows WADA’s list of prohibited substances. This means that racers cannot partake in cannabis in its natural form as it contains THC and other cannabinoids currently on the list.

And in the F1 racing lore we, Randy Thomas Lanier is legend. Best known for his racing efforts in the mid-1980s, including winning the 1984 IMSA Camel GT title for the wholly independent Blue Thunder Racing team then for being arrested for large scale marijuana smuggling in 1988 to support his racing efforts.

Once the race is over, drivers can unwind and are allowed to drink bubbles in public, for the media and to celebrate.

Americans Want It, Some Politicians Prefer a Nanny State

Terry Hacienda

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May 16, 2023

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Americans Want It, Some Politicians Prefer a Nanny State

McConnell, DeSantis, and Abbott don’t believe Americans know what they want

Why wants legal marijuana in the US? 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. It has become a $20 billion industry and a proven revenue driver for states. The numbers show Americans want it, but some politicians prefer a nanny state.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and US Senators Corey Booker (D- NY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) along with a whole slew of bi-partisan senators from Alaska to Montana to Ohio are backing the the SAFE Banking Act was a way to give the industry the beginning of an infrastructure for a solid industry.

But a few prominent individuals strongly believe they know better and feel they need to chaperone and ignore 88% of the population’s wishes.

Despite a slow federal process, the Department of Veterans Affairs changed policy for veterans so they can use medical marijuana without losing their eligibility for care and services. The change was based on science, data and need.

Yes former Senator President Mitch McConnell has bragged about stopping the cannabis industry. But in 2018, McConnell was able to legalize hemp in the Farm Bill generating jobs and revenue for Kentucky, but blocking marijuana small businesses. He continued and has successfully gotten hemp insurance provisions through disaster aid legislation and even approved a resolution that created a Hemp History Week.

Florida twice approved legalization. In November of 2016 Floridians voted on a constitutional amendment to introduce medical cannabis to the state. The amendment passed with 71.3% of voters in favor of the initiative. This was after it had won over 50% in a previous election, Governor Ron DeSantis refused. Since then, the potential presidential candidate, his state legislature and his Department of Health have done everything possible to make access to this plant as cumbersome as possible. Recently, DeSantis said that the smell of marijuana is among the reasons he remains opposes to the creation of a regulated, adult-use cannabis market in Florida. With a series of laws driven by him around cannabis, movies, Disney, colleges, and voting, Florida is becoming the largest nanny state in the country.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is unmoved by a new poll revealing that a majority of Texans support legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use.

Abbott stated his position has not changed beyond what he’s proposed in the past — reducing the criminal penalty for marijuana possession to a Class C misdemeanor, but not legalizing the drug.

Meanwhile, his nanny state policies has wrecked havoc in the state from people going days without power to potentially telling voters in Houston their votes no longer count.

The journey to legalize weed has become a Battle Royale in politics, we are hoping the good guys win.

What Americans Are Watching When No One Is Looking

Amy Hansen

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May 16, 2023

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What Americans Are Watching When No One Is Looking

Pornhub has released their annual data about what the United States watches.

While below Instagram, Yahoo, Amazon and Youtube, it ranks above Amazon, Walmart and TikTok. Pornhub is in the top 15 websites in the United States. The Canada based company founded in 2007 has soared in popularity. Porn is a global $97 billion industry with about $12 billion from the US. In their annual data release, they give insight into what Americans are thinking behind closed doors. Public declarations, shifting dynamics among age groups and more makes the data even more interesting. Curious on what Americans are watching when no one is looking? Well, Pornhub’s statisticians make use of Google Analytics to figure out the most likely age and gender of visitors. This data is anonymized from billions of visits to Pornhub annually, giving us one of the richest and most diverse data sets to analyze traffic from all around the world.

The Big Picture

About 40 million American watch porn annually. Gone are the days of the porn superstar. The reality category grew by 169% to become one of the top 20 categories, while popularity of the amateur category dropped slightly by 19%. Their statisticians theorize that as more amateur models have become full-time performers, the quality of their videos has improved, but visitors are still seeking a real homemade porn experience. Women view reality 37% more than men making it their 12th most popular category compared to men’s 15th.

Women are also watching more porn with a 36% increase over last year. Overall, 25-34 year old men and women watch the most and the 65+ watch the least. And 86% watch on a mobile phone.

Feet are the most specialized type watched with an increase of 38%. This was driven in 145% more women watching the toe-curling action.

Marijuana Use Reaches All-Time High Under Coronavirus Pandemic — https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-using-laptop-3360204/

Last year “lesbian” become the favorite search in the United States, replacing the previous favorite “hentai”. In 2019 and 2017 the top US term was “lesbian”, as was “milf” in 2018. “Ebony” and “Latina” searches moved ahead of “Asian” to round out the Top 5 US Searches.

Red vs Blue States

The top 10 states to watch porn are red states and mostly Southern. Alabama, Louisiana, South and North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky are joined by Indiana and Missouri for spending the most screen time. Meanwhile Washington, Delaware, Oregon, DC and Colorado seem to have other things to do.

Across the board, it looks like Monday night at 11 pm is the most popular time with Tuesday at 5 am the least popular.

Interesting notes

When you drill down to states – there are some surprises when it comes to top searches. Oregon is into Furrys, Nevada into cartoons, and Colorado is into Goth. Florida likes BBC, Maine loves anime and South Carolina search GlLF the most.

Trans are also showing a 22% increase from men and is driving a whole subset of speciality entertainment.

Popular with Gen Z (18-24 year olds) are threesomes, cosplay and cartoon. Gen Y prefers Asian, feet and tattooed. Boomers (the 55 and up crowd) likes handjobs, mature and babe rounded out with vintage porn.

As the classic country song goes “when you get behind closed doors”.

DOT Makes Change in Marijuana Policy

Terry Hacienda

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May 15, 2023

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Facing a hiring crisis that has ramifications on national security and more, the Space Force announced a new pilot program that would grant certain applicants who test positive for THC, the main psychoactive component in marijuana, a chance to retest and possibly join the ranks. Now, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) has taken this knowledge and taking their policy a step forward.

Since Covid, the US and other countries have faced an upended supply chain. DOT, which not only oversees federal roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure also oversees policy for truck drivers, ship captains, train engineers and airline pilots. During Covid, DOT, the US and the world struggled with not enough drivers for freight. While currently it seems to be easing, the forecast looks grim otherwise.

RELATED:

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has finalized a rule to amend its drug testing policy in a way that could have significant implications for truckers, commercial drivers, pilots and other federally regulated transit workers who use marijuana off the job. This brings it almost in line with their alcohol testing policy.

The change would allow oral saliva drug testing as an alternative to urine-based tests, similar to what they do with alcohol. The new testing, like alcohol, shows what is in the system for the last 24 hours and a deeper dive shows 80 hours (roughly 3.5 days).

Urine tests for THC are unreliable as metabolites can show up for weeks or months after consumption. Said tests often result in false positive results for people who are not actually impaired on the job, but have consumed on their free time. These ‘false positives’ are noteworthy because the DOT data released in January showed tens of thousands of commercial truckers have tested positive for marijuana as part of federally mandated screenings and a significant portion of those truckers refused to return to work, contributing to the labor shortage.

The updated policy bring marijuana in line with alcohol testing. No one wants freight truck driven with people under the influence and this policy moves toward letting people’s free time be there free time to do as they please.

Other positive news is last year the military changed policy for veterans can use medical marijuana without losing their eligibility for care and services, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Schumer Tosses A Little Hope Toward the Marijuana Industry

Terry Hacienda

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May 15, 2023

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Schumer Tosses A Little Hope Toward the Marijuana Industry

U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) give hope the beleaguered cannabis industry – again

Here we go again…U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee made a joint statement supporting the SAFE Banking Act. Good news is Senator Schumer tosses a little hope toward the marijuana industry.

Legalizing marijuana nationwide would create at least $132 billion in tax revenue and more than a million new jobs across the United States in the next decade, according to some estimates. It seems a much better idea than minting a trillion dollar coin.

The SAFE Banking Act has passed the House on seven times but stalled in the Senate. This has repeatedly given hope to the industry and hinted at where the concept of federal legalization stands.

The statement said “We were encouraged to see the SAFE Banking Act reintroduced last week after Senator Daines and Senator Merkley worked to make key improvements to the legislation. These improvements include the extension of the safe harbor to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDI) to ensure that small and minority-owned businesses can access the capital they need to start and maintain successful cannabis-related businesses, and giving people with income from legal cannabis business access to federally-backed mortgages.

“We look forward to watching this legislation progress through the Banking Committee and working with bipartisan partners to include additional improvements, such as the Harnessing by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act, which would support states that want to expunge cannabis records with grants.”

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) is champion of the bill and her webpage gives a clear idea of what the bill does and who are the backers.

The SAFE Banking Act of 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.

This legislation would also create a safe harbor from criminal prosecution and liability and asset forfeiture for banks and their officers and employees who provide financial services to legitimate, state-sanctioned cannabis businesses—while maintaining banks’ right to choose not to offer those services. The bill would also provide protections for hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) related businesses. This legislation, for the first time, explicitly extends the safe harbor to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDI) to ensure they can also serve cannabis businesses. CDFI and MDI serve underserved communities who face challenges in accessing capital and provide affordable access to financial services.

The SAFE Banking Act would require banks to comply with current Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) guidance, while at the same time allowing FinCEN guidance to be streamlined over time as states and the federal government adapt to legalized medicinal and recreational cannabis policies.

The current legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Rand Paul (R-KY), Angus King (I-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), MarkKelly (D-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Tester (D-MT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Chris Murphy (D-CT), and U.S. Representatives Warren Davidson (R-OH-08), Jim Himes (D-CT-04), Brian Mast (R-FL-21), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05), and Lou Correa (D-CA-46).

Some cannabis stocks rose by double-digit percentages on the annoucement. The bipartisan nature of the SAFE Banking Act’s reintroduction again appeared to boost hopes of more relief to come in the industry.

After failing seven times, you wonder what Vegas places the odds on passing.

Can CBD Make Your Summer Easy?

Amy Hansen

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May 15, 2023

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Summer is here, as kids it was time to run free and enjoy the endless days! But as an adult, it is a bit different, back to office, sunburns, work reaching out while you are the beach…all spoiling what should be a great three months. Can CBD make your summer easy and take the edge off and allow you to enjoy yourself?

Science has indicted CBD can help you make the most of the summer. When taking correctly it provides an effective option from skincare to helping you relax amidst the stress.

CBD and the sun

Your SPF Moisturizer Is Not As Effective As Sunscreen, Says Study — Photo by rawpixel.com

Early in the summer people bask in the sun. Sometimes too much sun which can be painful or just unsightly. CBD sunscreen may be able to help as reported. CBD has soothing properties that can calm the skin, including when mosquito bites cause itching and irritation. CBD or not, it is always good to have sunscreen – especially in those first forays in shorts on a sunny day.

CBD outdoors

It’s very important to stay hydrated during the summer, especially if you’re planning on staying active. The more you move and sweat, the more water and hydration you’ll need. CBD drinks could be a fun option. These come in different flavors and formats, such as energy drinks and water, all helping you treat the pain and inflammation from workouts. They can also be an alternative to alcohol drinks which don’t help your body during the summer.

With heat exhaustion, CBD could potentially help you. In other words, it can minimise the impact of some of its symptoms. In particular, muscle pains and aches, fatigue and tiredness, and headaches and migraines. It’s important to note that CBD will not actually reduce your body temperature.

CBD back in the office

office employees — Photo by Annie Spratt via Unsplash

Tech and banking companies are saying back to the office starting this month (today’s version of summer school?). Working in an office is definitely not a soothing as looking at your window or even working from the porch on a sunny day. Meetings, interruptions, your boss annoying you can all disrupt your work flow. If you need help focusing on work or any other tasks you need to complete, CBD can be an option. Oil, tinctures, strips and myriad other CBD products can help you control anxious thoughts while preventing lethargy.

CBD back home

If relaxing and unwinding are among your summer plans, CBD can assist with that, too. CBD oils play a subtle yet important role that grows more effective over time. Regular exposure helps you manage your heart rate, racing thoughts and unstable patterns of sleep.

All in all, enjoy the summer and make the most of every day!

Marijuana And Exercise, All Part Of The Healthy Cannabis Life

Amy Hansen

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May 12, 2023

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Marijuana And Exercise, All Part Of The Healthy Cannabis Life

Marijuana can be a great exercise partner and goes well into a health regime

Going against the grain is what rebels do, and marijuana has always been part of the anti-man movement. But with cannabis legal in 23 states now, it is transforming. Today marijuana can be part of a healthy low fat, low calorie, fitness lifestyle. Now marijuana and exercise, all part of a healthy cannabis life. Gone are hanging out drinking beer and sugary drinks, watching tv and eating food….instead it is a quick run, cbd to help with inflammation, a hit of a vape and a salad before a solid night’s sleep!

Scientists discovered in the 90s humans, and all vertebrate animals, have a naturally occurring system of receptors built to receive the active compounds in cannabis as well as similar compounds our bodies produce naturally. That is why we get “high” and why medical marijuana is effective for so many conditions.

Why even Muscle & Fitness magazine did an article about the benefits.

weight loss — Photo by Annushka Ahuja via Pexels

Yale research scientist, professor and engineering director, Alyssa L. Siefert, has written extensively on the subject and shared her enthusiasm with us:

The broad anti-inflammatory effects of cannabis, particularly CBD, are exciting for athletes looking to quickly relax and recover, and I hope that researchers are able to focus on beneficial strains and dosages.

Let’s look at some of what we know from research that should be of interest to exercise enthusiasts looking to include marijuana in their workout regimen:

Acts as a bronchodilator, allowing air passages in the lungs to open more for up to two hours.
Helps blood flow.
Reduces inflammation.
Makes pain more bearable and is safer than aspirin and Tylenol.
Helps with sleeplessness.
Improves recovery from traumatic brain injury.
Helps users stay leaner with trimmer waistlines.

Before we pump you up with all of the good news, a word of caution for the uninitiated: Cannabis use can lead to tachycardia, or increased heart rate. This is a notable concern for cardio enthusiasts, people with heart health issues or for those who already exercise at a very elevated heart rate. Cannabis can also slow reaction times, so experimenting while participating in a contact sport is not recommended.

Also keep in mind that smoking weed is just one way to ingest. In legal states, there are a variety of edibles, melt-away strips, tinctures, you name it. As noted before, CBD may give you some of the benefits of cannabis, but it will never make you stoned.

Maybe you want to simply do some research of your own. If so, we recommend you try it out at home first, where you can control your environment and feel most safe. Consume a moderate amount of cannabis, do some exercise and take notes on your dose, activation time and experience. That way you can find your sweet spot before you take to the gym in your newly lifted state.

Maine Is Getting It Right About Legal Weed While California And Others Struggle

Terry Hacienda

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May 12, 2023

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Maine Is Getting It Right About Legal Weed While California And Others Struggle

Maine is setting a thoughtful, reasonable approach to legal marijuana to support small businesses

Colorado has had the most success with legalized cannabis. They reduced the black market, provided reasonable taxes that made products competitive for the consumer sand the capped income, so people feel they get a “deal”. Comparatively, California has been the cookie monster of greed – creating havoc in the industry and hurting small businesses and the equity players they say they want to help. NYC’s failed rollout has paved for the way for over 1,500 unlicensed stores run by quick-thinking entrepreneurs selling products at a premium. known for its no-nonsense common sense, Maine is getting it right about legal weed and is setting an updated example of how to run a successful program.

Maine’s rugged individualism complements an emerging industry. Governor Janet Mills appointed John Hudak. He comes to Maine from the Brookings Institution, where he served as Deputy Director of the Center for Effective Public Management and as a Senior Fellow in Governance Studies. For the past decade, John has led Brookings’ research into cannabis policy, regulation, implementation, and politics. Hudak, highly respected, in the industry has had the opportunity to review how states have rolled out their programs.

Legal sales of recreational marijuana soared 94% in 2022 over 2021. And the illicit market has dropped 64%.

buying marijuana dispensary — Photo by CasarsaGuru/Getty Images

Hudak and this team are taking a holistic approach to legal marijuana in the state. In comparison, California saw legal marijuana as a pure revenue opportunity and didn’t look at how to build another thriving industry. Granted they had some iffy players like MedMen, the majority are small businesses trying to take advantage of the largest US market. Oversupply of flower coupled with high taxes has brought the industry to its news. New York, a rival in market size to California, couldn’t decide what they want and at the last minute scrapped all plans and rolled out a partial plan, at a significant loss to existing legal retailers. Now weed is expensive in the over 1,500 unlicensed retailers in New York City alone. Rather than fix the underlining problems, NYC instead “raids” and shuts down retails until they can open a day or two later. Green Market Report said “Following a new push by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to crack down on unlicensed cannabis sellers across the Empire State last week, few in the legal industry expressed optimism that the policy would have the intended effect, with several predicting that the unregulated market would simply pivot instead of giving up.”

An early success is the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) amended its contract with the Adult Use Cannabis Program’s (AUCP) inventory tracking vendor, Metrc, to implement batch tracking for cultivators.

Seed-to-sale tracking of cannabis serves as the foundation for state regulation. It allows a safe supply chain that prevents both diversion (product from the regulated market being sold in the illicit market) and inversion (illicit supply entering the regulated market). It also allows the state to take strides in protecting public health and safety. OCP took these important aspects of inventory tracking into consideration while examining the potential challenges and benefits to a batch tracking system.

Hudak shared his thoughts on where they are going “Cannabis regulations should be designed to provide safe, reliable, and consistent cannabis for patients and consumers. However, those regulations need to be as efficient as possible to meet public expectations about the supply chain, public health, and public safety. At the same time, regulations and taxes on cannabis cannot be so overburdensome that the legal, regulated market cannot compete–and outcompete–the unsafe, unregulated illicit market. Tension will exist between regulators and the regulated, but honest, well-intentioned, and good faith conversations among regulators, industry, and other interested stakeholders must work together to find (what can sometimes be a difficult) balance.”

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

Fact or Fiction – Does Marijuana Increase Your Metabolism

Does marijuana make you gain weight or increase your metabolism and decrease your mass?

Nauseous, Marijuana Might Provide Immediate Relief

Summer upends our schedules with late night sunset suppers, spicy food, walks in the and more – but does your stomach pay a price?

Understanding Nausea

F1 Racing And Marijuana

Americans Want It, Some Politicians Prefer a Nanny State

McConnell, DeSantis, and Abbott don’t believe Americans know what they want

What Americans Are Watching When No One Is Looking

Pornhub has released their annual data about what the United States watches.

The Big Picture

Red vs Blue States

Interesting notes

DOT Makes Change in Marijuana Policy

Schumer Tosses A Little Hope Toward the Marijuana Industry

U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) give hope the beleaguered cannabis industry – again

Can CBD Make Your Summer Easy?

CBD and the sun

CBD outdoors

CBD back in the office

CBD back home

Marijuana And Exercise, All Part Of The Healthy Cannabis Life

Marijuana can be a great exercise partner and goes well into a health regime

Maine Is Getting It Right About Legal Weed While California And Others Struggle

Maine is setting a thoughtful, reasonable approach to legal marijuana to support small businesses

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