An Alcoholic’s Guide To Cannabis Consumption

Terry Hacienda

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October 2, 2022

An Alcoholic’s Guide To Cannabis Consumption

Replacing your alcohol addiction with a weed addiction is not the way to wean yourself off of alcohol. Here are some potentially helpful insights as to why.

The other day I stumbled upon a Reddit post written by a former booze hound who switched to cannabis to quit drinking. Being in recovery is a day to day journey. Here is an alcoholic’s guide to cannabis consumption.

The post went like this:

I quit drinking about 16 months ago, but I immediately started smoking more pot. Then I started vaping the high-concentrate waxes and shatter, and drinking tonics that are 100mg THC per bottle. I was putting massive amounts of THC in me. So, obviously, I was sober from booze, but not addiction-free because I was doing THC. If you do this- watch out- I quit the THC a few months ago and had major depression for a couple weeks afterwards. People say there is no withdraw from pot- they are trying to sell pot to you, or they just don’t know. There is withdraw, and it is NO fun. I’m sure the severity varies from person to person. So if you do pot, I’d recommend small doses! I have since quit.. once a month maybe I’ll smoke some flower. (Pot is legal in my state)

While it’s good that the Redditor in question managed to wean off high doses of weed, and essentially break the cycle of addiction, it’s important to note that while weed can help you quit alcohol, it can also fill the space that the addiction to alcohol created.

This is one of the major issues with substitution: you don’t necessarily get rid of addiction by simply switch hats.

It also inspired me to write this guide from the perspective of an alcohol and to create a correspondence between certain types of cannabis consumption methods and how it would translate into the world of alcohol.

Of course, it must be stated that this is purely subjective and that it should be taken with a grain of salt — or, in this case, a grain of malt!

Joints – The Beer of Marijuana

Let’s start off with the most consumed alcohol after Baijiu, which is the most consumed spirits in the world — beer!

Similarly, the most popular way of consuming cannabis still is flower, which predominantly is smoked in joints. Roughly 37% of the cannabis product market share goes to flower.

Thus, an appropriate comparison would be joints to beer. If you’re looking for a smooth way of consuming cannabis that won’t straight up f*** you up, pipes or joints would be your best bet.

Similar to beer, it’s got lower intoxicating effects than the other products on our list and you can titrate your consumption.

Think of a joint as your six pack; you can take a few hits from it, and when you feel the buzz, you can turn it off.

I have smoked a joint for days, just taking little hits here and there which is why I believe that flower and beer have the most in common when trying to equate the two wildly different substances.

Vapes – The Wine of Marijuana

Next, let’s start hitting up the vapes which takes up 32% of the cannabis market share. The reason I would say vaping is more like wine is not because of THC content, but rather the type of consumer tends to resemble wine drinkers.

First, vaping devices can get quite costly. Pax dropped their prices, but the Pax 2 still comes with a $150 price tag. A Pax 3, will cost roughly $100 more. This price point separates it from the average flower consumer that could very easily smoke their weed in an apple if need be.

the benefits and potential downsides of vaping according to research — Photo by HighGradeRoots/Getty Images

While vaping doesn’t necessarily increase the THC content, it does refine the toke a bit more by eliminating combustion from the equation.

I personally love vaping dry herb, it simply allows you to get more for your money in my opinion.

Concentrates – The Spirits of Marijuana

It’s a no brainer to equate dabs with hard liquor. Some concentrates can have 99% prevalence of THC, which might sound like a lot, but you must understand that you have a bioavailability factor to consider. Not all of the 99% of THC will make it into your system.

Nonetheless, it’s an easy comparison that Dabs could to weed what Vodka is to alcohol. It’s strong, it packs a punch and you really don’t need much of it to get the job done.

If you’re looking for something to pack a punch, a dab will do!

Edibles – The Cocktails of Cannabis

Finally, we’re going to take a look at edibles and why I consider it to be the cocktail of cannabis.

First, it comes in all flavors and even include liquid form. Secondly, just like with cocktails that mask the taste of alcohol, you can totally have “one too many” which will send you down a rabbit hole of serious consequences.

Why Do Some People Not Get High From Eating Edibles? — Photo by Sarah Pender/Getty Images

As with cocktails, pacing yourself is the best approach to edibles and waiting at least an hour between edible will allow you to titrate your high.

Technically, out of all of the means of consuming cannabis, edibles have the greatest chance of sending you to cloud nine. This is because when the liver breaks down THC, it turns it into 11-hydroxy-THC which is said to be 10x more potent than Delta-9-THC.

How to Quit Alcohol with Weed

As we saw in the original example, replacing your alcohol addiction with a weed addiction is not the way. However, with the little guide I created here for you, you can sort of have an idea of how to substitute and how to not abuse these cannabis products.

Alcohol withdrawal can be lethal depending on the severity of the addiction. Cannabis can help mitigate some of these effects, however, if you’re trying to substitute one addiction for another, cannabis won’t be much help in the long run.

It’s best to have a game plan, and hopefully with this article, you should have some idea already.

Good luck!

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been reposted with permission.

Why Cannabis Users Prefer Black Market Over Legal Marijuana In Uruguay

Maria Loreto

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October 1, 2022

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Why Cannabis Users Prefer Black Market Over Legal Marijuana In Uruguay

Buyers of Uruguay’s black market explain that the country’s marijuana products are limited and it’s easier to acquire what you want from the black market, even if the legal route results in cheaper products.

Legalizing marijuana is a slow, tedious process, with no clear recipe for success. A perfect example of this is Uruguay, the first country in the world to legalize marijuana. While legal marijuana was established in 2013, the country still has a thriving black market that has adapted and survived legalization.

Per a study conducted by a local institute that regulates cannabis, only 27% of Uruguayan consumers buy their drugs legally.

Montevideo (AFP) has quotes from several cultivators and marijuana users based in Uruguay, who explained that, despite legalization, government-regulated marijuana still has many issues that the majority of consumers would rather avoid.

There are three legal routes for consumers to purchase marijuana: at pharmacies, through home growing for personal use, and by belonging to a cannabis-producing club. While the latter method is the one that’s most appealing to people, offering more variety, these clubs have long wait lines and are limited by how many members they can have.

Buyers of Uruguay’s black market explain that the country’s marijuana products are limited and it’s easier to acquire what you want from the black market, even if the legal route results in cheaper products. Purchasing legal products require people to make appointments. Via the black market, buyers can simply contact their dealer and purchase what they want.

weed dealer — Photo by José Antonio Luque Olmedo/Getty Images

The legalization of marijuana has resulted in different factors. It has dealt a blow to drug trafficking, drastically reducing it, and has eliminated the danger associated with the black market. “I don’t see it as the black market,” said a 28-year-old black market buyer. “It has good prices for what is sold and you don’t feel like you’re making use of drug trafficking.”

She explains that there’s always “a friend or an acquaintance who passes you a contact from someone who has flowers and sells them.”

Another contributing factor is the fact that the legal marijuana that’s available in pharmacies across Uruguay is limited to 10% THC. Most seasoned users want stronger products or are seeking other strains that are not offered legally.

To battle this, the Uruguayan has discussed increasing the THC limits in their pharmacies and providing users with a larger variety of products. Still, marijuana is in a complicated position right now. While it was introduced by a leftist government when José Mujica was president, Uruguay now has a center-right president whose administration isn’t pushing for the drug’s advancement.

“I don’t believe in the state growing and selling marijuana,” president Luis Lacalle Pou told BCC. “I believe in people, cannabis clubs, or whatever we have, that they produce their own marijuana and they can have their own circles of marijuana use.”

GOP Lawmaker Questions Medical Marijuana

Benzinga Staff Writer

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October 1, 2022

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GOP Lawmaker Questions Medical Marijuana

“…I’m certainly opposed to recreational marijuana,” he said. “I think our General Assembly is pretty much opposed to it because it adds another drug to the streets.”

By Jelena Martinovic

Tennessee, one of several states where only CBD oil is legal, has seen its fair share of legislative action on cannabis by GOP legislators, yet medical and recreational marijuana has not come close to legalization or decriminalization. And know, there is a state GOP lawmaker who questions medical marijuana.

Still, cannabis continues to be a hot topic among politicians in this southern state. Rep. Sabi ‘Doc’ Kumar (R-Springfield) was the latest to share his stance on the issue.

“I oppose recreational marijuana because of its effect on society in regards to homelessness, increased crime, increased availability, especially for our adolescents and teenagers,” Kumar, who has a four-decade career as a surgeon, told Nashville News.

However, he is not against medical cannabis use, even though he believes it can become a gateway drug.

“A lot of states, that’s been a stepping stone to recreational marijuana, and I’m certainly opposed to recreational marijuana,” he said. “I think our General Assembly is pretty much opposed to it because it adds another drug to the streets.”

Interestingly, Kumar objected to the data reported by ACLU suggesting that Black and brown people are nearly four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than white people.

“If you didn’t commit the crime, you would not be in jail. So, really, it may be culturally that certain people are more prone to commit that crime,” he said. “But certainly, if you committed a crime, that’s why you went to jail. You didn’t go to jail because of your color.”

medical marijuana — Photo by FatCamera/Getty Images

Fellow Republican Agrees

Meanwhile, Kumar’s fellow Republican, Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald), has a fairly similar opinion on the issue, doubting the benefits of marijuana touted by medical cannabis users.

“People claim that it helps a lot of medical problems, and I’m not saying that it doesn’t help some things,” Hensley, also a doctor, told the news outlet. “I don’t think it helps all the things people claim it helps.”

Still, he thinks that the descheduling of cannabis as a Schedule I on the federal level paved the way for more research on the effect marijuana has on the human body.

“We just need to be able to change the scheduling on it and then be able to do some studies, and then see what we need to do after that,” Hensley said.

Tennessee Legalization Efforts

Meanwhile, legislation sponsored by the two Republican lawmakers — Rep. Bryan Terry and Sen. Ferrell Haile — that sought to create a medical cannabis program in the state got a hearing in the House Criminal Justice Committee earlier this year.

Republican Senator Janice Bowling, known for her cannabis policy reform efforts, is getting ready for another push.

Her bill, SB2477/HB2458, would allow those with qualifying medical conditions to use medical cannabis legally. It will also regulate the cultivation, production, distribution, transport, sale, and possession of cannabis for medical use and research.

Meanwhile, Tennessee recently got its first bar and restaurant to serve products containing THC derived from hemp. Located at 1246 3rd Avenue in the Germantown neighborhood, Buds & Brews features a menu of “upscale bar fare” paired with a line of “delicious cannabis-infused sauces.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

Two States Received More Tax Money From Weed Than Alcohol

Maria Loreto

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September 30, 2022

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Two States Received More Tax Money From Weed Than Alcohol

The data also lends credence to the belief that legal cannabis could curb the consumption of substances like alcohol and tobacco.

With every new year, legal marijuana states prove that the plant is a good source of income. In the Fiscal Year 2022, the states of Washington and Colorado had more revenue from cannabis sales than from alcohol or cigarettes.

These numbers were published Wednesday by the Tax Policy Center (you can find the full report online).

“19 states now have enacted taxes on recreational marijuana purchases, but the tax regimes vary quite a bit,” the company tweeted. “Over time, states can collect a significant amount of revenue, and Colorado and Washington collected more from taxes on cannabis than alcohol or cigarettes in 2022.”

Here’s highlights of what they found. First, states and localities tax marijuana by weight, sales price, potency, or some combination. pic.twitter.com/uXX91muaAq

— Tax Policy Center (@TaxPolicyCenter) September 28, 2022

The report explains why cannabis taxes work differently than alcohol or cigarette taxes, which are standardized throughout the country. “While 19 states have enacted a tax on recreational marijuana, there is no standard cannabis tax in the US the way there is an alcohol tax, cigarette tax, and gas tax. Instead governments use three different types of cannabis taxes: a percentage-of-price-tax, a weight-based tax, and a potency-based tax. Different states use different taxes and some states levy multiple taxes.”

Colorado collected $353.7 million in marijuana tax dollars in Fiscal Year 2022, while Washington collected $517 million (by contrast, the state took in about $490 million from alcohol and $380 from cigarettes).

These numbers highlight a variety of things that are important for cannabis proponents; not only do these states make a significant amount of revenue, but the data also lends credence to the belief that legal cannabis could curb the consumption of substances like alcohol, cigarettes and even opioids.

Just this week, a study conducted in Florida found that medical marijuana users are less likely to use opioids. Participants explained that cannabis treated the symptoms of their disease (anxiety, chronic pain, PTSD, and more) while also helping them curb or eliminate their use of prescription pills.

Oklahoma Suing Pregnant Women For Consuming Medical Marijuana

Benzinga Staff Writer

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September 30, 2022

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Oklahoma Suing Pregnant Women For Consuming Medical Marijuana

According to state law, physicians are not obligated to determine if patients are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy soon before they provide them with a medical marijuana license.

By Nina Zdinjak

Since 2019, at least 26 women in Oklahoma were charged with child neglect felonies for consuming cannabis while pregnant, according to The Frontier. The punishment for this crime can be life in prison, though the previous offenders who pleaded guilty were given probation.

Of those 26 women, at least eight were medical marijuana license holders, meaning they were allowed to legally buy and use cannabis, having a doctor’s recommendation. Nevertheless, the problem boils down to whether medical marijuana can be treated as an “illegal drug,” because if it can, the law is clear pregnant women can be charged with child neglect for consuming illegal drugs while pregnant. Women in Oklahoma have been prosecuted even after giving birth to healthy babies.

Wait a second, isn’t medical marijuana legal in Oklahoma for registered patients?

That’s right, those who have a license from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority are allowed to buy and consume marijuana and there are no rules prohibiting pregnant women from using cannabis or have a license. According to state law, physicians are not obligated to determine if patients are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy soon before they provide them with a medical marijuana license.

On the other hand, medical marijuana products in the state have warnings against use during pregnancy, similar to those on cigarette packs.

Most medical professionals agree on advising against using marijuana, cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs during pregnancy.

Brian Hermanson, one of the two prosecutors in Oklahoma who has brought charges against those pregnant women, believes this is a felony. “If they make bad decisions about using drugs while they’re pregnant, they’re probably going to make other bad decisions when raising the child,” he said last November.

Ryan Kiesel, a civil rights attorney, and former Oklahoma lawmaker, on the other hand, thinks that these prosecutions are “inconsistent with state law.”

“Those women are protected as medical marijuana patients under the law,” Kiesel said. “It’s important to remember, if you have a medical marijuana license, you are under the care of a physician.”

The number of women in the U.S. who turn to cannabis while pregnant has notably increased over time. Between 2002 and 2017, the figure went from under 6% to 12%, as per data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

What about Oklahoma? The numbers don’t look great. Since the state legalized medical marijuana in 2018, the number of state newborns who tested positive for cannabis grew by more than 160%.

What Are The Impacts Of Cannabis Use While Pregnant?

Unfortunately, there are not enough relevant scientific studies on this topic, as marijuana couldn’t be researched for a long time, because of its status as a Schedule 1 substance.

More and more new studies indeed indicate there are negative consequences to children whose mothers consumed cannabis while pregnant, it is hard to confirm that the consequence came only from cannabis use. As Dr. Mishka Terplan, who has researched substance use in pregnancy and has helped develop American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist guidance on addiction says, the impact of marijuana exposure can be very hard to separate from tobacco use, stress, and any other health and environmental factors.

After all, women are advised not to take any legal drugs while pregnant, like painkillers or alcohol, right? It is not so strange to see women smoking a cigarette with a huge bump, even though the negative consequences of cigarette smoke to unborn children has been known for a while now. What about stress?

And yet, no one is prosecuting pregnant women who smoke or drink. Well, isn’t that a bit hypocritical, if child care is the main concern in these prosecutions?

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

How Climate Change Is Linked To The Spread Of Viruses Like Monkeypox And COVID

Culture
News

Maria Loreto

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September 30, 2022

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How Climate Change Is Linked To The Spread Of Viruses Like Monkeypox And COVID

Experts believe climate change makes it more likely for viruses like COVID and monkeypox to spread and infect more people.

There are currently two viruses affecting large amounts of people all over the world. This year saw the rise of monkeypox, with about 67,000 cases worldwide. 2020 saw the rise of the COVID pandemic, which continues to affect people despite the fact that there’s a vaccine and multiple boosters out.

Climate change might make this phenomenon even more common in the years to come. NPR provided a breakdown of climate change and its impact on these types of viruses, explaining why the two are linked together.

Do You Experience Withdrawal If You Stop Using Cannabis Cold Turkey? — Photo by Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman/Getty Images

COVID and monkeypox are both zoonotic diseases, which means that they spread between humans and animals. Climate change, which affects animals’ habitats and is linked with human migration, means that humans and animals will likely be forced into the same spaces, facilitating the transmission of different diseases.

“Elements such as deforestation, population growth, and animal breeding have removed the boundaries between where humans and wild animals live, bringing them into closer contact,” explains NPR.

As animals and humans are more exposed to each other, pathogens start to change and mutate, with odds of them being easier to spread from one to the other. “Depending on the particular germ, when it has an opportunity to do this multiple times, the germ adapts to the new species,” said Dr. Carl Fichtenbaum, vice chairperson for clinical research.

Globalization makes matters worse. Nowadays, people are traveling to novel places and more often, meaning that any disease that spreads in one country could spread to another in a matter of days.

Still, despite the great technological advancements that exist and the awareness of these diseases, it’s very difficult for experts to predict incoming pandemics and viruses. While scientists may research diseases and their odds of spreading and becoming the next pandemic, it’s almost impossible to predict which disease and which region is at risk.

It’s difficult to warn people about these dangers and to make governments take a stronger stance, especially when they know what’s at risk. Researchers believe including diseases and health risks and the cost of these in public policy might help people take climate change more seriously, and take some meaningful action.

How To Enjoy Dabbing Without A Dab Rig

Terry Hacienda

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September 30, 2022

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These five tried-and-tested techniques will save the day when you have concentrates. Just because you don’t have a dab rig doesn’t mean you can’t get high.

Dabbing has become one of the most popular ways that experienced cannabis consumers get high. This method of consumption involves placing a tiny amount of cannabis concentrate on a hot surface, allowing it to vaporize, so that you can inhale extremely potent marijuana.

Medical or recreational cannabis consumers alike can enjoy the benefits of dabbing especially when you want to make the most out of a small amount without having to consume too much. After all, cannabis concentrates are notoriously potent: you can consume anywhere from 50 to 98% THC.

The most common way to dab is to use a reliable dab rig. Dab rigs are a specific type of water pipe that’s designed specifically to inhale concentrates or dabs. It works by filtering the vapor from marijuana through water, which is in essence, similar to how a bong works. Dab rigs also have a nail, which is a name for the glass bucket, which is heated with a torch for around 30 seconds. After cooling, you can then inhale the vapor without burning your throat.

Dab rigs are popular. However, it isn’t the only way you can consume dabs. Perhaps you found yourself without one because you didn’t know you needed it, find it too expensive, or you may have broken the glass. Don’t worry: below are other methods you can consume dabs without the use of a dab rig.

Use a joint: This is the easiest and simplest way to enjoy dabbing without a dab rig. What you will need is wax, marijuana flowers, and rolling papers. Make a joint the way you typically would, and evenly distribute the flowers on the paper.

Place some wax on the center of the flower, ensuring that it doesn’t touch the part of the joint that you’re going to light up. If it does touch the wax, this can result in a dangerous open flame.

rolling a marijuana joint — Photo by Kampus Production via Pexels

When using this method, keep in mind that wax is extremely sticky. You may end up wasting too much when it gets stuck in paper and your fingers.

A bowl: For the uninitiated, smoking dabs in a bowl is extremely simple. You can choose to use a bong or bubbler. The first step is to load a tiny bit of wax, then cover half the bowl with bud in order to protect the wax. Again, you don’t want the wax to touch the flame.

You should have a bowl that has a layer of concentrate covered by a layer of bud. You can add more weed if you want, depending on how much grass you have available. With this technique, there’s no need to use top-shelf bud since you’ll be smoking most of the dab anyway. The primary purpose of the bud here is to protect the dab.

Rechargeable vape pen: This is a convenient way to dab. Use a rechargeable vape pen with a cartridge already filled with wax. Screw it onto the pen, take a hit, and relax.

However, if you already have wax that you want to use in a refillable cartridge, this is possible too. Just make sure to use a vape pen that’s equipped with a removable atomizer, which is the heating component where you add the wax. Typically, older vape pen models have the atomizer since more modern models do without it.

Place a small dab of wax onto the metal dabber, then remove the atomizer. Dab the wax on the coil, and link the atomizer to the pen. Next, connect the mouthpiece to the chamber. Press the power on the vape, and slowly inhale to get the perfect balance of vapor and heat.

Edibles: Making edibles out of concentrates instead of regular cannabutter will ensure a seriously potent and much longer-lasting high. There are countless cannabis concentrate edible recipes you can use; just keep in mind that you also have to decarboxylate your wax or other cannabis extracts the proper way.

marijuana edible — Photo by MykolaSenyuk/Getty Images

Cannabis concentrate edibles are a fun and affordable way to medicate. The best part is that compared to flower, you only need a significantly smaller amount to enjoy the same benefits. Always follow the general rule of thumb when dosing concentrate edibles for the first time: start with the smallest dose possible, and wait at least two hours before you decide to follow up.

Hot knife: As a last resort, if you don’t have any tools or access to the previous techniques, you can try the hot knife method. You will only need a butter knife and a heat source.

The knife should be heated by placing it on a heating element. This can be a hot plate, electric stove, or a gas heater. When the knife is already hot, dab a little wax on it then inhale. Unfortunately, this can be a little challenging because unlike bongs or pipes, there are no enclosed areas. This means that you run the risk of losing some vapor even when you inhale.

You can combat this by using a straw, funnel, or even a plastic bottle. These are simple solutions to maximizing a tiny problem when using hot knives for dabbing.

Conclusion

A functional dab setup is always ideal for the best results when dabbing. However, when you don’t have the complete setup, it’s time to get creative. These five tried-and-tested techniques will save the day when you have concentrates. Just because you don’t have a dab rig doesn’t mean you can’t get high.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been reposted with permission.

Amazon Loudly Backs Cannabis Legalization, But Silently Bans Weed Grinders

Benzinga Staff Writer

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September 29, 2022

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Amazon Loudly Backs Cannabis Legalization, But Silently Bans Weed Grinders

A search for “spice grinders” on Amazon shows more than 8,000 results for grinders and at least 660 for “spice grinders for cannabis.”

By Nina Zdinjak

Amazon made headlines last year when it came out in support of ending marijuana prohibition. Now, it seems the company has gotten cold feet. It is reportedly clearing spice grinders, used by some to grind weed flower, from its site ostensibly in keeping with company policy not to sell drug paraphernalia.

What Happened

In a Seattle Times story from earlier this week, Lauren Rosenblatt shared an example of one company, Golden Gate Grinders, which has been selling spice grinders on Amazon for nine years. Then, all of a sudden, the platform banned them.

“There was no indication in all those years that this is a prohibited product,” Arnold Marcus, founder of Golden Gate Grinders told the Times. “One day, they were supporting me and then one day it ended.”

Leafly pointed out that there are about a thousand other items that can be used to help consumers enjoy their weed, such as lighters. Even an apple can be used to create a makeshift pipe. Where, then, do we draw the line?

To confound the situation, Amazon has removed some spice grinders and left others. One grinder still on the site describes one of its benefits as a place to “just keep your weed […] until you need it,” writes the Seattle Times. A search for “spice grinders” on Amazon shows more than 8,000 results for grinders and at least 660 for “spice grinders for cannabis.”

So what gives? Lesley Hensell, co-founder of Riverbend Consulting, which helps third-party sellers on Amazon attempts to explain.

“They’ve always said there’s no drug paraphernalia but there were lots of products that were ambiguous products that were able to sell on the platform for years and years,” Hensell said.

Endless Complexity Of The Cannabis Industry

With federal and state laws not being in sync, the marijuana industry is a difficult place to operate. Chris Shreeve, co-founder and VP of business development at Seattle-based ad agency PrograMetrix calls it “inherently risky.” Shreeve, who co-owns a weed dispensary said “We have to play the hand that we’re dealt in the cannabis space. It’s a difficult hand, but we’ve got to do it.”

Large platforms like Google, Meta, and Amazon are “tiptoeing around acceptance,” Shreeve said, noting that companies tend to search out the gray areas for their products and services.

“I don’t fault cannabis and CBD brands for trying to navigate the ambiguous rules and regulations on some of these larger platforms. But it needs to be done under the assumption that there is risk.”

Where Is Amazon Heading And Why? This Is What Happened Last Year

For starters, Amazon openly backed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2021 (MORE Act), last June. At the time, Dave Clark, CEO of Worldwide Consume, which deals with Amazon’s retail websites, wrote this on the company’s blog: “We know that this issue is bigger than Amazon, our public policy team will be actively supporting the MORE Act, federal legislation that would legalize marijuana at the federal level, expunge criminal records, and invest in impacted communities. We hope that other employers will join us, and that policymakers will act swiftly to pass this law.¨

At the same time, the company announced it would stop testing its employees for marijuana use and would lobby Congress to end the federal prohibition of marijuana.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

Is Regular Marijuana Use Linked With An Overactive Bladder?

Maria Loreto

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September 29, 2022

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Is Regular Marijuana Use Linked With An Overactive Bladder?

Marijuana use is becoming increasingly common. And as more states legalize the plant for recreational and medicinal purposes, more and more people are confident in its medicinal strength. Still, due to how difficult it is to conduct proper research on the drug, there are a lot of things we don’t know about cannabis, including benefits and side effects. Is regular marijuana use linked with an overactive bladder?

A new study published in the American Journal of Medicine examined whether marijuana has an impact on overactive bladders and found that regular marijuana users are more likely to suffer from the condition than non-users.

cannabis bong — Photo by Daria Kulkova/Getty Images

Researchers collected data from 2005 and 2018 on regular and non-regular marijuana users aged 18 to 59, who answered a variety of questions about drug use and kidney conditions.

Over 18,000 samples were gathered, with 24% of respondents identifying as regular marijuana users. These people were more likely to be male, single, smokers, thinner, and younger when compared to the other participants in the study. They also reported more urinary incontinence and frequent nocturia, which is the urge to wake up in the middle of the night to go use the bathroom.

While researchers don’t understand why marijuana affects bladders specifically, the study shows that regular marijuana users were at higher risk of overactive bladder disorder and at an especially higher risk of nocturia.

“Our data do not support the evidence for the use of cannabinoids in the medical treatment of patients with overactive bladder, especially given the thorny health problems caused by marijuana,” concludes the study.

Overactive bladder is defined as a condition where people have to urinate with more frequency. It includes behaviors like nocturia, urge incontinence, and more. It’s considered a chronic disease.

How Many Milligrams Of THC Is Too Much?

Tom Gaffey

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September 29, 2022

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It might not be possible to fatally overdose on weed, but you sure can have so much that you wish you never got high in the first place. Here’s how to avoid that.

Although we hear it time and time again, we often have to learn the hard way that there is truth in the phrase “having too much of a good thing.” This saying, while annoying when uttered by our worrying parents when we eat candy as children, can be painfully true when it comes to marijuana consumption. What starts off as a delicious edible and relaxing high can potentially lead to an overwhelming burst of anxiety, paranoia and heart pounding. This is where the “too much” part comes into play.

When it comes to marijuana, it might not be possible to overdose in the classical sense when you think of a drug overdose and the death associated with it, but you sure can have so much that you wish you never got high in the first place. So in order to prevent an event that involves you thoroughly delirious and/or paranoid, you should probably know how much weed is too much for you, and how to avoid getting to that point.

Standard Dose Vs. Too Much

If you are looking to find a “serving size” of THC, you will quickly learn that the number of milligrams for a “serving” fluctuates based on who you ask and what state you are in. Scientists, for example, use 5 mg doses in most tests, as this creates a standard, and often subjects in the study feel the desired effects at that level. Experts recommend starting off with 2.5 mg of THC, and to not exceed 40 mg of THC per day.

Smoking Marijuana — Photo by Jamie Grill/Getty Images

In some states you can get a single edible that is 10mg, which sort of implies the serving size could be 10 mg in those places, while other states have a limited edibles to 5 mg. Ten milligrams is often considered a standard serving for those well-versed in THC consumption. Either way, as a rule of thumb, it is best to go with the one edible, and wait. Exceeding 40 mg, unless you are a seasoned cannabis consumer with a high tolerance, could send you into another dimension, which can be problematic and even dangerous if you weren’t planning on entering said dimension.

Edibles are the dosages you need to pay closest attention to, since they take so long to kick in. When it comes to smoking and vaping, it is much easier to keep yourself from consuming too many mg of THC at once. You just need to take a few breaks and pay attention to your mind and body to see if you notice any warning signs that you may have had too much.

Warning Signs That You Should Stop Consuming

One of the best ways to know when it is definitely time to stop consuming is when you start experiencing some of marijuana’s negative side effects. Sure, negative side effects can occur at any dosage, but if you are experiencing more than one, or more than you typically do, it could be you have consumed too many milligrams of THC.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states on its website that while fatal overdoses of marijuana are unlikely, watching out for some of the negative side effects can help keep you from entering a place that renders you out of your own control for several hours. The CDC mentions extreme confusion, anxiety, paranoia, a fast heart rate, increased blood pressure, hallucinations and vomiting as major red flags.

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You might experience one or two of these from time to time, especially if you have a low tolerance or are trying a new strain, but experiencing several of these symptoms means it is time to pump the brakes. Be sure to note the amount of THC you consumed and try halting it the next time you indulge, and go from there.

Dosing Is Individual, Not A Science

Remember that while following a self-guided THC dosage plan can help you avoid a negative experience of feeling too high, you need to remember there is no exact correlation to milligrams of THC and how high you will be. All sorts of factors play a role in how high a certain amount of weed will get you.

From the strain, to the time of day, your weight and what you had for breakfast are just a few of the variables that can make all the difference between 10 mg of THC being perfect or way too much. As we’ve mentioned before, dosages of any substance effect people in different ways. Factors like tolerance, body mass, mindset and more all make a difference. So give yourself time to feel the effects before upping your dosage.

Once you find what works for you, it is probably good not to test the limits, because often the only way to find out how many milligrams of THC is too much is to find out from personal experience, and that’s an experiment you should do your best to avoid.

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