A new experimental surgery showed some promising results for the treatment of this severe eating disorder.
Researchers appear to have found a new way to treat binge eating disorder: brain surgery. According to two patients that underwent the procedure, the experiment yielded positive results. They claim to be experiencing fewer food cravings one year later and having more control over their brains.
The pilot study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, only included six participants. Researchers used deep brain stimulation on their brains, a first in the case of binge eating disorders. Surgeons planted a device in the patients’ brains, right under the scalp, which was programmed to detect a craving to binge eat and to zap the brain to manage the impulse.
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While researchers explain that there’s no physical sensation for patients as the device releases its zap, it could affect their moods.
Experts explain that binge eating disorder is a result of a brain mix-up. People aren’t binge eating because they simply can’t control themselves; their brains are sending the wrong signals and causing imbalance.
While researchers are optimistic about the study’s results, they’re also open about the inherent risks of brain surgery. Still, patients spoke to NBC News and were excited with their results, which some called immediate. “Within a few days, I could tell that the cravings were becoming under control,” she said. “I wasn’t constantly thinking about food,” said Robyn Baldwin, a 58-year-old woman from California.
While the results are promising, the participants that have discussed their results are both women of a similar age, who are overweight. This means that, at this point, it’s unknown if these effects will be replicated in other patients. Still, it’s an important first step and an exciting result for millions of people who struggle with binge eating disorders.
Is the U.S. finally ready to give THC drinks a shot? Some industry experts think so.
Now that people are officially smoking more cannabis than tobacco, it’s time for companies to try to make a profit off cannabis drinks. Weed-infused beverages haven’t amassed much success, mainly because THC is difficult to present in liquid form but also because the drinks tend to taste like grass. But the future is bright and companies doing some long term betting on cannabis drinks.
Now, there’s a variety of brands hoping to change things by creating THC-infused drinks and providing a new and more accessible method to get high. Still, these products are in their infancy.
CNBC reports that the market is slowly getting crowded, with various companies trying to be the first to crack the formula and deliver the first successful and mainstream THC drink. “The choice for consumers was not as wide in the past but now we’ve seen dozens of companies get involved in the cannabis beverage space,” said Amanda Reiman, VP of public policy research at cannabis analytics firm New Frontier Data.
Some of the biggest beverage companies in America are getting involved in the cannabis drinks space; Pabst Blue Ribbon, Anheuser-Busch, Constellation Brands, Lagunitas Brewing Company, and Ceria are some of the biggest names on the list. PBR is selling non-alcoholic cannabis drinks containing 10mg of THC. The drinks are available in pineapple, mango, strawberry, and lemon flavors, and, since cannabis remains federally illegal, are sold online or in dispensaries located in legal states.
While cannabis drinks have been brought up in the past, some experts are calling this moment unique, and the right time for the drink to have its breakthrough. “There have been multiple false starts for anointing beverages as the next big thing,” said Keef Brands CEO Travis Tharp. “But I think we’ve gotten to a point where we are showing that the year over year growth is something that is substantial.”
As is the case with new cannabis inventions, the lack of research is a problem, resulting in a laborious process that may take years to resolve. Still, as the plant continues in popularity, people will likely try out new forms of cannabis, even if they’re not aware of the possible side effects.
In 2020, the ban on Pell Grants for people who served prison time was finally lifted, but those who took out loans prior to the repeal were “disproportionately shut out” of Biden’s plan.
When announcing his proposal to forgive federal student loans, President Joe Biden said the intention was to help minimize the racial wealth disparity in the US. However, one important detail regarding a crucial component of the plan wasn’t mentioned at the time: loan forgiveness for convicted drug offenders who were denied federal financial aid, including Pell Grants.
According to the Associated Press, those who wanted to go to college after serving time had no choice but to take on “larger, often predatory, private student loans.”
In 2020, the ban on Pell Grants for people who served prison time was finally lifted, but those who took out loans prior to the repeal were “disproportionately shut out” of Biden’s plan, the report continued.
The situation serves as yet another example of the negative effects the so-called “war on drugs” — a US legislative agenda that Biden supported back when he was a senator.
And the legislation didn’t affect all people equally. Black and Latino men were the ones who suffered the most, because they were far more likely to be criminalized than white people.
Biden did note how America’s student loan debt burden, which is above $1.6 trillion, is especially heavy on Black and Hispanic borrowers, who on average have less family wealth to pay for it.
According to data from the Student Borrower Protection Center, “Black students are four times as likely to struggle in repayment on private student debt in comparison to their white peers.”
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What Is Biden’s Loan Debt Relief Plan?
Biden’s plan grants relief to roughly 43 million people with student debt (potentially the full remaining balance for about 20 million Americans). Among those who qualify for debt relief, more than 60% are Pell Grant recipients.
The Department of Education should provide up to $10,000 in federal student debt cancellation for individuals with annual income below $125,000 or married couples with a combined income of $250,000 or less, according to a statement from the White House.
Up to $20,000 in debt cancellation will be made available to Pell Grant recipients.
According to the White House, Black borrowers are twice as likely to have received Pell Grants “compared to their white peers.”
Black student loan borrowers are twice as likely to have received Pell Grants compared to their white peers.
By providing targeted relief to Pell Grant recipients, the Biden-Harris Administration’s plan will help narrow the racial wealth gap and advance racial equity.
The Associated Press cited sources explaining how Biden’s plan should consider and address previous anti-drug laws.
One observer, JustLeadershipUSA president DeAnna Hoskins, noted how there are tens of thousands of people who had no other option than to take out private student loans (which come with additional risks for borrowers including high-interest rates and fewer protections) all because of the ban on Pell Grants.
“This is why it’s so important, when decisions like this are being made, that the voices of people with lived experiences are present,” she said. “We can help you obtain the equity you’re seeking.”
A few years back, the knowledge of these “minor” cannabinoids were only coming to light. Today there’s a lot more in-depth information about each one mentioned here.
How well do you know your cannabinoids? Most people are familiar with the two main cannabinoids: THC and CBD. However, cannabis is a complex plant with complex chemistry. As we continue to research these compounds, we begin to uncover the very nature of the experience we obtain from ingesting the plant. What are the major and minor cannabinoids, and which do you need to know?
In this article, we’ll be taking a “look under the hood” to see what these cannabinoids are all about. In the near future, the classifications of “sativa” and “indica” will begin to lose importance when selecting your perfect strain. It’s smart to begin to educate yourself in the subtleties that is cannabis.
This article was inspired by an LA Times article where they eloquently broke down the cannabinoids using pop culture to help drive the point across.
We will start with THC mainly because it’s one of the most known cannabinoids on the market. It’s what everybody is either trying to limit, or to get more of. THC is responsible for your “high” and comes in different forms. We’ve got delta-9-THC, which is what you get when you vape or smoke the plant. Then you’ve got 11-Hydroxy-THC, what happens when the liver processes it.
These days delta-8-THC and delta-10-THC have also grown in popularity namely because it’s currently not illegal according to the Controlled Substance Act and can be derived from Hemp.
The second famous cannabinoid is CBD (cannabidiol). People call it the “medical cannabinoid” because it does not get you high and seemingly helps for plenty of ailments. It’s also one of the few cannabinoids that has an FDA-approved medicine on the market.
CBD is a nuero-controller, it helps with anxiety, stress, seizure disorders and is widely available virtually everywhere. This is also legal on a federal level.
CBN (cannabinol) is a cannabinoid that appears over time as the cannabinoids degrade due to oxidation. If you leave your stash out, CBN will begin to grow in prevalence. Smoke this CBN weed and you’ve got a powerful sleep aid. It’s also got anti-bacterial properties.
Next we’re talking about cannabichromene, which is really not very popular and kind of illusive in the modern market. It’s reported to be similar in effect to that of THC and CBD, except with not such a heavy “narcotic feeling” as with THC alone. It helps with reducing inflammation and blocking pain.
THCv or tetrahydrocannabivarin is a cannabinoid that will get you high without giving you the munchies. Researchers have known about this cannabinoid since the 1970s.
This is still not as popular as THC, however, with the effect of appetite suppression we can expect this to make its way into the “weight loss industry”.
All the cannabinoids start off in their acidic form. THCa is essentially THC in its acidic form, meaning it’s still not psychoactive.
Recently, chemist Dr. Mechoulam, known for discovering THC, has been uncovering great results with THCa. This is because in its acidic form, the bioavailability of THC increases a thousand fold.
This means greater potential for pain relief and neurodegenerative relief. While THC is in its acidic form, it also doesn’t have any psychoactive properties. The major downside is that it’s not a very stable cannabinoid but this could soon be circumvented with “biological cannabinoid factories”.
Delta-8 is currently in this state of limbo. It gets you high sort of like regular Delta-9, except it’s not listed on the Controlled substance Act. This means that federally speaking – it’s a legal high!
More importantly, Delta-8 can be derived from hemp, making it especially a difficult to regulate lest you tap into the potential of hemp.
It stands to reason that sooner or later legislators will sink their fangs into this substance and make it illegal once more. But for now, it’s one of the few legal cannabinoids that gets you high.
More to come…
The more we research this phenomenal plant, the more we uncover! A few years back, the knowledge of these minor cannabinoids were only coming to light. Today there’s a lot more in-depth information about each one mentioned here.
What we have presented to you here today is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. As we continue to open this box of knowledge, and as our understanding of cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids expand, our means of classifying cannabis will also undergo this type of transformation.
Soon we’ll be asking for specific ratios of certain cannabinoids to achieve particular “highs” or medical treatments. Not to mention the specific cannabis-based medicines that will be cooked up in pharma labs all around the world.
We’re about to enter into a new era of cannabis exploration. We’ll need to see how the rest of the year plays out, but I can see that we’re already undergoing a massive shift.
In the meanwhile, it’s important to begin to understand these minor differences in order to become a more conscious consumer.
If you do your research and follow these tips, you should have no problem enhancing your meditation practice with a little help from weed.
Marijuana and meditation are kindred spirits in a way. People use both separately to find a sense of peace, tranquility and the feeling of being present in the moment. Marijuana has also infused itself into many forms of meditation over the years.
While meditation and marijuana are connected, it does not mean that when you take a bong rip and close your eyes you will find your zen. If you are interested in using marijuana to elevate your meditation, you need to look deeper at meditative practices, and how marijuana affects your mind and body.
In order to have a successful and meaningful meditative practice with marijuana, you need to do a bit of planning. But if you do your research and follow these five tips, you should have no problem enhancing your meditation practice with a little help from weed.
Photo by Jared Rice via Unsplash
Take The Proper Dosage
Perhaps the most important guiding principle when combining marijuana and meditation is taking the right dosage. The amount of marijuana you need for your meditation depends on exactly how high you think you should be for the practice. Many people like to microdose in order to get some calming effects without being too mentally altered, while others prefer being completely high when they try to find inner peace.
As we have previouslyreported, there are steps and guides to microdosing (1 to 2.5 mg of THC) and macrodosing (10 mg of THC and higher) properly. The key is to know your goal and to consume with intent, rather than just popping a random edible and hoping for the best. The proper dosage planning combined with the right practice can greatly improve your desired results.
Choose The Strain To Match Your Practice
There are different types of meditation, all with different goals. Some meditation is geared towards breathing more consciously, while other meditations help create a pure calm. Just as there are different types of meditation, there are just as many (and more) strains of marijuana to compliment your intention.
We previously reported on the10 best strains of weed for meditation. These include everything from the popular and sedative Northern Lights to the trippy and transfixing Shaman, but keep in mind this selection may be different depending on your own personal goals. If you are unsure of how you react to different strains, it might be best to start with a well balanced hybrid with high levels of CBD, since CBD is known to help with calming the mind and body.
Ensure You Are Rested And Calm Before Elevating The Practice
Meditation is all about setting a tone, and being genuine and committed to your time in meditation. It cannot be rushed or faked, and weed will not magically put you in the mood to meditate. Make sure you have done your best to resolve any issues in your day, or at least don’t let them linger.
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Be sure to pause all conversations and tie up loose ends. Our minds tend to wander, and they can be magnified when high. So be sure you have wrapped up your affairs and are in a calm place so you can give your all to finding inner peace – at least for a little while anyway.
Set The Mood Before You Get High, Not After
One tip to ensuring a successful and blissful meditation is to set a tranquil mood in your meditation space, and to set it up before you get high. It’s true that you can meditate anywhere, but it helps to have a tranquil space, especially if you are newer to meditating. Candles or incense, mood lighting and harmonious sounds are all helpful, but choose what feels right to you.
Most importantly, do this before you get high. Otherwise you may find yourself sidetracked by the process, and completely lose focus on the task at hand. Consider completing your meditation space and then getting high in that space to further set the mood and relax you.
Properly Schedule Your Meditation Time
When it comes to the length of your meditation practice, you can meditate for as little as one minute and upwards of several hours. It is best to have a good idea of how long you would like to (and have time to) meditate. This lets you schedule the appropriate amount of time for the entire activity.
In addition to the meditation time, you need to know the time needed to consume marijuana, and how long it takes to feel the effects. For example, if you are smoking, you likely need to add a 15 minute buffer before you meditate to allow you the time to smoke and begin to feel the effects. Edibles require more advanced planning, and if you plan to use edibles before a meditation practice it is a good idea to have a loose window, since there is no exact science to determine when an edible will kick in.
The situation is looking gloomy for cannabis companies in the Sunshine State. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis thinks medical cannabis businesses should pay a lot more for the chance to legally operate in in Florida.
The state “should charge these people more,” DeSantis said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. “I mean, these are very valuable licenses. I would charge them an arm and a leg. I mean, everybody wants these licenses.”
DeSantis didn’t specify whether he meant medical marijuana companies that are already operating in the state, such as Trulieve Cannabis Corp., or companies that have yet to do business in Florida but are interested.
Either way, DeSantis’s plan is bound to spark chatter among the state’s major companies that are both headquartered and established there, including Red White & Bloom, Columbia Care, Curaleaf Holdings, Fluent, and Verano Holdings.
DeSantis’ statement comes on the heels of multi-state cannabis operator MedMen Enterpise Inc.’s $63 million sale of Florida operations to Green Sentry Holdings LLC. And earlier this month, Trulieve, opened a new medical dispensary in Kissimmee.
Back in 2015, medical cannabis operators in Florida had to pay around $60,000 to be allowed to sell low-THC marijuana products. Businesses also have to renew their licenses every two years.
“Why wouldn’t we take the opportunity to make money for the state based off those?” DeSantis said. “But I do think that would require a statutory change (by the Legislature), and I don’t think that’s something we could just do through administrative rule.”
Photo by Ivan-balvan/Getty Images
What makes Florida medical marijuana licenses so valuable? According to Sally Kent Peebles, a Jacksonville-based partner at the national cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg LLP, they are “the most valuable licenses in the world” thanks to the way the state’s medical cannabis industry is structured.
“Most states have much lower fees to get a license,” Peebles said. “But Florida is much more unique than any other state because we’re the only state that one license allows you to have unlimited ability to open as many facility locations as you want.”
Also, most cannabis companies don’t earn as much profit as it is commonly believed due to their getting “taxed on ghost income” at a rate of 85% or even higher.
“So the idea that these companies are making millions and millions of dollars and are sitting back and twiddling their thumbs and like laughing at everybody while raking the dough in is just not the case,” she said.
Even if the application fee increases, Peebles believes it wouldn’t discourage those interested in running a cannabis business in the state, mostly because many are hopeful that Florida will legalize recreational cannabis in 2024.
New Emergency Rule
Florida health officials recently released a much-anticipated rule establishing THC dosage amounts and supply limits on products physicians can order for medical marijuana patients, writes Fox 35 Orlando.
Under the new emergency rule, there’s a 70-day total supply limit of 24,500mg of THC for non-smokable cannabis. Dosage caps for various methods of administration such as edibles, inhalation, and tinctures are also established.
The rule further promotes a state law that imposes a 2.5-ounce limit on smokable cannabis products over 35 days. When it comes to THC in smokable products such as whole flower, the limit is actually based on weight and not on levels of THC. Furthermore, under the new regulations, there’s a process for physicians to demand an override for patients they believe need more than allowed under the limits. The rule took effect on Monday.
Fetterman pledged to press on the topic of marijuana legalization ahead of Biden’s visit to his state of Pennsylvania.
If the recent polls are any indication, it’s looking like John Fetterman (D) has a good chance of beating Dr. Oz (R) to become Pennsylvania’s next Senator. Ahead of President Biden’s visit to Pittsburgh this Labor Day, Fetterman plans to press on the topic of marijuana decriminalization, an issue that has been one of the guiding posts of his campaign.
“It’s long past time that we finally decriminalize marijuana,” said Fetterman. “The president needs to use his executive authority to begin descheduling marijuana, I would love to see him do this prior to his visit to Pittsburgh. This is just common sense and Pennslyvanians overwhelmingly support decriminalizing marijuana.”
Photo by Bill Ingalls-NASA via Getty Images
Fetterman also posted his sentiments on Twitter, telling Biden that he has “the power to use your executive authority to chart a new course.”
It’s long past time that we finally decriminalize marijuana.
Too many lives like Paul’s have been destroyed by misguided policy most Americans want to see reformed. @POTUS you have the power to use your executive authority to chart a new course. https://t.co/pNKxF0SnVq
In his statement, Fetterman also mentioned that marijuana is not a serious crime. “As mayor of Braddock, I made it my mission to combat serious crime. I know firsthand what real crime looks like. Marijuana does not fit the bill,” he wrote. “It’s time to end the hypocrisy on this issue once and for all.”
During a press briefing on Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about Fetterman’s statements, but she deferred. “When it comes to drugs, the highest priority for the administration is addressing an overdose crisis,” she said. “But at the same time, President Biden believes that there are too many people serving unduly long sentences for nonviolent drug crimes, a disproportionate number of whom are black and brown. That’s why in April, during the Second Chance Month, President Biden announced 17 sentences, commutations, and three pardons, which are more grants of clemency at this point in a presidency than any of his five recent predecessors.”
Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Fetterman has been a proponent of legal marijuana through his entire run for office. In one of his campaign videos, he explains he was one of the first politicians to voice his support for the drug. “And now five years later, I renew that same call for any number of reasons, but most importantly, for the criminal justice aspect of it,” he said.
While Biden has previously opposed marijuana, his position has shifted over the years, landing on his campaign pledge to free people who have been incarcerated over marijuana-related offenses. Biden has taken no significant action on the topic of cannabis while in office.
The U.S. is seeing an increase in marijuana use that can be attributed to legalization for recreational purposes, a recent study in the journal Addiction shows. Those living in states where adult-use cannabis is legal consume it 20% more frequently than residents of states where marijuana is still banned.
The study included 3,421 participants from Colorado and Minnesota. They sampled on two occasions: first, prior to 2014 when the sale of marijuana was still illegal, and second, after 2014 and Colorado went recreational. Over time those surveyed relocated, which resulted in nearly every state being represented in the survey.
Interestingly, the study also looked into marijuana use patterns among 111 pairs of identical twins, with one living in a state where recreational cannabis is legal and one in a state still pending legalization.
Given that twins share everything from genes to the same type of upbringing, the influence of policy change on marijuana use could be measured more precisely, Stephanie Zellers, a researcher at the University of Helsinki in Finland, explained.
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Among the identical twins, researchers found that marijuana usage increased about 20% in states that legalized recreational weed compared to those that did not.
“Because that 20% estimate is from the analysis controlling for measured and unmeasured variables, it is the most precise estimate of the causal influence of cannabis legalization on cannabis use,” Zellers told CNN.
A Hot Research Topic
Meanwhile, a separate study that used data from the 2004–2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that cannabis use is 10 times more common among those who smoke cigarettes than in non-smokers.
While a heated debate on whether marijuana legalization leads to more young people trying the substance or not persists, San Francisco-based cannabis delivery platform Eaze found an increasing crossover between cannabis use and off-the-couch activities, including work, fitness and intimacy.
“We’re seeing the integration of cannabis into parts of life where we previously didn’t see it. It’s not about waking up and hitting a bong,” Elizabeth Ashford, vice president of communications at Eaze, told Adweek recently. “Some people may take a 2-milligram Sativa edible like someone else would drink espresso in the morning.”
A study that’s been ongoing since 2015 showed that one pill that contains different medications was effective in preventing heart attacks.
Heart attacks and cardiovascular disease are some of the most dangerous health concerns in the world. They’re also incredibly common, being the number one cause of death in the country.
Researchers behind a recent study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine devised a pill that can help people with a history of heart attacks stay healthy. The pill, called Trinomia, bundles three medications together and resulted in fewer heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular-related deaths.
Photo by Ryan ‘O’ Niel via Unsplash
This method of medication delivery is called a polypill, and it consists of grouping medicines into one pill, making the treatment process easier and less likely to forget.
The trial began in 2015 and consisted of 2,500 participants who were heart attack survivors and over the age of 65. Patients were randomized to take either the pill (a mix of aspirin, atorvastatin, and ramipril) or their standard treatment. Patients were then tracked for five years.
Twelve-percent of patients in the control group experienced a cardiovascular incident when compared to 9% of those who took the polypill. Overall, the pill resulted in a 24% risk reduction. In terms of death, patients who took the polypill were 33% less likely to die than other patients.
“Treatment with a polypill containing aspirin, ramipril, and atorvastatin within 6 months after myocardial infarction resulted in a significantly lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events than usual care,” concluded the study’s researchers.
The research is the first of its kind, with the medical community eagerly awaiting the results. While the drug is yet to be approved in the US (it’s known as Trinomia), these results will likely lead to more results and possibly a new form of treatment that’s effective and efficient.
Taking the steps to make weed products kosher actually opens your product up to all sorts of dietarily-restricted individuals.
When it comes to marijuana and whether or not it should be permitted, the discussion is mainly centered on the federal government and its legalization of the substance. In actuality, there are many laws, practices and even dietary restrictions. Take the Jewish religion and its concept and practice of traditional law and kosher guidelines, for example. So, is marijuana kosher?
In order for a food product to get the familiar kosher label we see on all sorts of products, it must be, by Merriam-Webster’sdefinition, sanctioned by and ritually fit according to Jewish law. When most non-kosher individuals think of kosher, they likely know that pork, shellfish and the mix of meat and dairy are all non-kosher, but in reality kosher goes deeper than this.
Certifying food as kosher goes so far as to examine the equipment used to prepare items all the way to inspecting for possible remnants that can be found in the food items themselves. With these strict guidelines, one has to wonder if marijuana is considered kosher.
Photo by Lealnard Riengkaew / EyeEm/Getty Images
Insects Pose A Problem
Insects can cause all sorts of issues with marijuana – they can even kill a plant. One problem caused by insects that is lesser known, is that they can render marijuana non-kosher. This is because according to The Torah (Leviticus 11:42) “All the things that swarm upon the earth are an abomination; they shall not be eaten.” This translates to insects not being kosher when eaten.
Sure, insects are not on most food menus, but unprocessed marijuana might have bugs inside the buds and elsewhere. Also, unless factories that produce edibles are inspected for these types of issues, it is difficult to put a kosher stamp of approval on them.
One way around this is to smoke, rather than eat, marijuana that is not stamped with a kosher or insect free certification. Since the kosher law refers to eating and consumption in that regard, it is safe to burn them up – just don’t digest them.
Kosher Certified Weed
Some brands have begun to kosher certify their marijuana products. This is a way to put the jewish community at ease when consuming edibles, which are widely popular in both recreational and medical marijuana circles. One of the key elements of certifying a product as kosher is confirmation of practices. In other words, you need to enlist an impartial and observant set of eyes to inspect and confirm clean and thorough production practices.
This is critical, as it means a kosher stamp not only confirms a product is safe for a kosher-practicing individual to consume, but it also puts people on other strict diets, like vegans, halal and others, at ease. Confirming that there is a third-party verifying factory practices allows all sorts of strict dieters to know the label information is accurate.
Joe Hodas, the chief marketing officer of Wana Brands, a marijuana company that produces kosher products, told Forbes that the kosher certification indicates to the consumer that the products are made in a clean and reliable environment. “And because many certifications such as USDA Organic are unavailable for cannabis products and facilities, kosher certification illustrates the care that Wana takes to provide premium products to its customers,” according to the article. This shows that taking the steps to make weed products kosher actually opens your product up to all sorts of dietarily-restricted individuals.
Photo by Jordan Siemens/Getty Images
A Leaf Is a Leaf, and the Law Is the Law
One last important factor to consider in regards to marijuana being kosher concerns the law. Part of Jewish law requires that its followers also follow all the civil laws where they reside (as long as they don’t contradict the laws of the religion).
“Therefore, in addition to whatever Judaism says about marijuana, Jewish law demands an obedience to the authority of civil law. If it’s illegal to possess or use marijuana, it’s also against Jewish law,” according toaish. So, make sure you are not breaking the American law when you use cannabis, or you may also be breaking Jewish law.
When it comes down to it, as long as marijuana is in its pure form and free of bugs, it should be safe to consume if you are kosher. According to theJewish Virtual Library, “If we would know that the product in question contains just leaves and that there was no unkosher residue on the processing equipment, it would not need certification, like plain unflavored tea.”
So, is marijuana kosher? While most of what you smoke and consume will be, when you see a kosher label on one of your cannabis products you can rest assured that an extra set of eyes has certified your product as clean and properly made.
