Thailand became the first South-East Asian country to decriminalize marijuana last month after the government removed the substance from the banned Category 5 narcotics list. This allowed Thais to grow cannabis plants at home and sell the crop legally.
Now several hundred doctors from Ramathibodi Hospital are pushing for the suspension of the newly proposed policy.
According to Bangkok Post, a total of 851 doctors, including lecturers and alumni of the faculty of medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital at Mahidol University, are seeking immediate suspension of marijuana decriminalization.
Dr. Smith Srisont, president of the Forensic Physicians Association of Thailand, posted a statement on his Facebook account.
The petitioners emphasized that cannabis has adverse effects on the bodies and brains of the young, seeking enactment of adequate measures and policies for the safe use of marijuana.
Illinois Rec Cannabis Tax Revenue Breaks Another Record In 2022
Tax reported from recreational cannabis sales in Illinois rose by 50% year-over-year to $445.3 million in the fiscal year 2022, Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently announced.
Cannabis tax disbursements to local governments totaled $146.2 million for the year, representing an increase of 77% from $146.2 million in 2021.
Meanwhile, recreational cannabis sales surged 50% year over year to $1.5 billion in 2022.
“Illinois has done more to put justice and equity at the forefront of this industry than any other state in the nation and has worked to ensure that communities hurt by the war on drugs have had the opportunity to participate,” Pritzker said in a press release. “The $1.5 billion in sales of adult-use cannabis in Illinois translates into significant tax revenue with a portion of every dollar spent being reinvested in communities that have suffered for decades.”
Interestingly, Illinois took in more tax dollars from cannabis receipts than alcohol in 2021. Cannabis taxes in the Prairie State exceeded liquor taxes for the first time in February 2021.
Photo by Ivan-balvan/Getty Images
Zimbabwe OKs Hemp Use In Medicines
Zimbabwe gave the green light to the sale of hemp-based products as a part of therapy prescribed to patients.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe is now calling on all licensed cannabis and hemp producers as well as manufacturers, importers, exporters and retail pharmacists to qualify to sell the products through an application process.
Those interested are required to submit samples of their products and undergo an inspection of their production sites.
The regulator said earlier this month that “unlicensed sellers of cannabis will be prosecuted for selling unapproved.”
The applicants have already started submitting applications for approval of their hemp-based products, the regulator said.
The study represents a significant advance in our understanding of the role of gut microbiota in motivated behavior, specifically the behavior of voluntary alcohol consumption.
The impulse to drink is complicated and tied to a variety of things. While you may have cultivated your taste for alcohol due to your lifestyle and lots of time spent out with friends, there’s an important genetic component to these habits. It seems your gut may be influencing your urge to drink.
A new study conducted by researchers from Madrid found some links between the urge to drink alcohol and gut health. According to researchers, if these findings were to be explored, people could develop a better understanding of why they feel the impulse to drink and health experts could come up with novel forms of treating alcohol disorders, conditions that have been historically tough to overcome.
Researchers examined 507 young participants, who provided fecal samples for analysis and completed a questionnaire about their drinking patterns. These samples were then compared to a group of non-drinkers, with researchers finding some differences in their stomachs, with drinkers having an abundance of a bacteria called Actinobacteria
Researchers then turned to animals to find out if the bacteria in their guts pushed them to want to drink alcohol. Researchers transplanted the fecal bacteria of alcohol dependent animals to those that were non-drinking and discovered that the latter group started having cravings after the procedure.
“The study represents a significant advance in our understanding of the role of gut microbiota in motivated behavior, specifically the behavior of voluntary alcohol consumption,” according to Elena Giné, researcher at the UCM’s Department of Cellular Biology.
Experts have a couple of theories as to why this could happen. Alcohol could increase the presence of bacteria that pushes animals and people to drink, or it could decrease other bacteria and change the microbiome of the host’s organism, thus making them crave alcohol.
While the study remains in its initial stages, it raises some interesting questions. Most importantly, if more studies were conducted and this theory was proven correct, some alternate methods of treating alcohol disorders could appear, affecting the lives of millions of people all over the world.
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, chaired by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), held a hearing on Tuesday titled “Decriminalizing Cannabis at the Federal Level: Necessary Steps to Address Past Harms.”
The meeting came on the heels of last week’s presentation of a long-awaited marijuana bill — the Cannabis Administration And Opportunity Act (CAOA) — which would decriminalize and deschedule cannabis on the federal level, while also promoting social equity. Booker sponsored the bill, alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) (C), joined by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) (L) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) / Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The hearing tackled many important issues in regards to federal cannabis legalization, but it wasn’t an actual debate on the bill, as the subcommittee has yet to vote on the CAOA.
Booker started the Senate hearing on cannabis urging for the end of the federal ban on marijuana, claiming “Federal cannabis prohibition has failed,” reported NJ.com.
Booker cited evidence that cannabis’ current classification as a Schedule 1 drug has caused many harms.
“It has failed to make our communities safer, it has failed to reflect modern science and contemporary values across the political spectrum, and it has miserably failed our most vulnerable people in America,” Booker said. “Really, it’s inflicted a lot of damage upon the families within our country.”
Others Disagreed
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) challenged Booker’s claims that the federal ban on cannabis has disproportionately affected Blacks and other minorities.
“The marijuana legalization movement is plagued by misinformation, much of which somehow found itself into the chairman’s opening statement,” Cotton said. “Federal marijuana laws are not a racial justice issue and federal prisons are not filled with low-level, non-violent drug possessors.”
Former Associate Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General Steven Cook also argued that there’s no racism in the criminal justice system and that the law enforcement was mainly focused on large-scale drug trafficking, instead of personal use.
“Unfounded allegations that the criminal system is systemically racist are destructive,” Cook said. “They undermine the public confidence in the best criminal justice system in the world and they foster division at a time when our nation desperately needs leaders who do the opposite.”
The System Is The One To Blame
Dr. Malik Burnett, medical director for the Center for Harm Reduction Services at the Maryland Department of Health, noted that this is more of a “systematic racist problem.” Kids from low-income communities are often not able to afford lawyers or other resources if police implicate them. “This is the system and the way it’s designed,” Burnett said.
Annapolis, Maryland Police Chief Edward Jackson agreed with Booker, saying: “Around the country, people — including police — are realizing that there is nothing inherently violent about selling, possessing, or using cannabis; prohibition is what fuels violence and crime, not cannabis,”
“All these impacts of cannabis prohibition have fallen particularly hard on communities of color because cannabis laws are only enforced in certain neighborhoods,” he said.
Photo by FatCamera/Getty Images
The Need For SAFE Banking Act Is Clear
During the hearing, another bill, which many industry experts believe has the most chances of reaching President Joe Biden’s desk, the Secure and Fair Enforcement, or SAFE, Banking Act was also discussed.
So far, the SAFE Banking Act has managed to pass the U.S. House six times in the last three years, and lately, Senate has been under a lot of pressure to approve it.
A hearing on this act is scheduled on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, featuring the congressional supporters and people from the industry who are at risk of robberies because operating mainly in cash. Among those who will speak is Dennis Brown, who lost his son in March during a robbery at the dispensary he worked for.
While Booker is against the passage of the SAFE Banking Act on its own, because of fear of not handling restorative justice after that, Burnett confirmed during the hearing that “the need for legislation like the SAFE Banking Act is clear.”
After the hearing, Booker told NJ Advance Media that he was discussing with other lawmakers legislation that contains both SAFE Banking and restorative justice.
“I’ve always understood the urgency of SAFE Banking, but strategically I want folks to know that if we just do SAFE Banking we may never see restorative justice things, at least not in the short term,” Booker said. “The ability to get SAFE Banking, combined with restorative justice principles, is to me an achievable effort.”
A good rule of thumb is that if your state bans cannabis use in public places, it is safe to say you cannot use it in a state park.
Camping is a wildly popular fair weather activity throughout the country. It is a perfect excuse to get your family and friends together for some time with nature. When you’re in the woods, or camped on the beach, it is easy to let all your anxieties and professional stresses evaporate into the clean air.
While releasing stress is one of the many great benefits of camping, it is important to remember there are still rules and laws you must follow while camping. This is particularly true if you bring some marijuana along with you on your camping trip.
Camping can be the perfect setting to enjoy some great bud, but it is important you go into your trip prepared with tools and knowledge to ensure a smooth and elevated excursion. Here are some basic facts and tips to live by when camping with marijuana this year.
Know The Laws For National Parks Vs. State Parks Vs. Private Camps
It might seem like anything goes when you are in the vast nothingness of a place like Glacier or Badlands National Park, but in fact, alcohol is strictly forbidden. Because national parks are federal land, federal laws apply. That means marijuana is still a schedule 1 substance. The exact verbiage, according to the National Park Service is, “Possession or use of marijuana inside a National Park Service unit (parks, preserves, rivers and monuments) is prohibited.”
When it comes to state parks, things can be more complicated. A reporter with SF Gate struggled for days to find any official who could offer any sort of “policy” for California State Parks, stating that, “The legalization of recreational marijuana in many states is still so new, and regulations surrounding it can still be complex and unclear.” In other words, if your state recently legalized marijuana, then state parks may not even have up-to-date policy on cannabis usage.
A good rule of thumb, however, is if your state bans cannabis use in public places, it is safe to say you cannot use it in a state park. Additionally, some states ban all smoking, tobacco and cannabis. According to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, “Smoking is not permitted in State Parks, except on paved roadways or parking facilities. On January 1, 2020, the law associated with Senate Bill 8 went into effect.” The main reason for these no smoking laws often has to do with wildfire risk, so it is important you abide by them. If you are trying to get high in parks with no smoking policies, pack your edibles.
Private campgrounds have the right to create their own policies, as long as they abide by laws and do not prohibit any fundamental rights. Therefore, if marijuana is legal in the state where you are camping, your private campground can either prohibit or allow marijuana use. In some cases, in fact, they might even promote marijuana use.
Find Cannabis Friendly Accommodations
In the last few years, many private lodges and accommodations have capitalized on the weed market by marketing themselves as cannabis friendly. There are all sorts of cannabis friendly lodges and campgrounds. Also, as we have previouslyreported, there are all sorts of “Bud and Breakfasts” sprinkled all over the country near some of your favorite wilderness spots. Now you can even find explicitly cannabis friendly campgrounds in most states where it is legal.
Be Respectful Of Your Neighbors
Remember that just because weed is legal, it does not mean everyone at the campground wants to get contact high. Read the room, or in this case, read the wilderness. Be mindful of the direction of the wind and station yourself accordingly. If you are around families, use common sense. Remember edibles and vaporizers won’t leave the surroundings smelling like skunk. After all, once you have made sure you are in the legal clear, and aren’t upsetting your neighbors, you are free to enjoy all the joys that the great outdoors mixed with cannabis has to offer.
Between Skunk, Kush, and Haze, which is better? It depends on the cannabis user as everyone has their peculiar preferences.
Cannabis enthusiasts globally are familiar with these varieties: Skunk, Haze, and Kush because they profoundly impact the cannabis industry. To have a comprehensive understanding of the history of cannabis, it must start with these three substances.
In addition to being some of the first considerable strains in modern times, these strains also influenced the rise of cultivars that cannabis smokers loved. So what makes Skunk, Haze, and Kush the classics they are today? Let’s get answers!
Photo by Elsa Olofsson via Unsplash
Background Of Skunk, Haze, And Kush
Every cannabis first-timer immediately unravels the variety of strains available in the cannabis industry. Both users and growers have an avalanche of strains to select from, which is grounded in the genetics of cannabis.
The availability of these varieties explains why there are cannabis strains with different effects, tastes, and growth features. It is therefore common to find cannabis enthusiasts with shelves full of different kinds of varieties as this allows them to enjoy what these strains have to offer.
From the myriad of options, some strains stand out from the others. Anyone who smokes Skunk, Haze, and Kush will confirm that these are legendary strains that have become a kind of “holy grail” within the cannabis industry.
These three strains attained legendary status because of what they offer the cannabis user: a distinctive, robust flavor and superior yields that are every grower’s delight. These strains are even more popular in recent times because cannabis breeders use their genetics as a building block for hundreds of many new hybrid strains.
What is Skunk Cannabis?
A skunk is a super-strong form of cannabis that has taken over the streets of America, with cannabis users preferring it to other strains. However, as one of the oldest bred hybrids in modern cannabis history, it has thrived in various locations worldwide.
It is often referred to as the number one choice for breeders and has given rise to hundreds of new strains. Skunk cannabis-derived its name from an animal, and its flavor is called the “skunk terpenes.” This cannabis is revered in the industry for its strength and intense aroma.
So what makes Skunk so unique and appealing? Why are breeders eager to use this strain to create new cultivars? Skunk offers a balanced package of phytochemicals with reliable and robust genetics, all with a delicious taste.
It has a slightly indica-dominated strain, grows in a bushy yet compact way, and has thick-fingered fan leaves with a dense canopy. The Skunk strain has a 17% THC content (which fluctuates based on the nutrition and lighting the plant receives). When users smoke Skunk, their mood is instantly elevated; they feel relaxed and at peace.
The flowers of the Skunk strain provide a pleasant and slightly sour taste because of their high terpene myrcene content that also guarantees a relaxing effect.
Skunk smoking tip: This strain is better enjoyed when smoked in the late afternoon and evening, just after completing your tasks for the day. You are bound to sleep peacefully with creative and inspiring thoughts.
What is Kush Cannabis?
Kush cannabis belongs to be the family of some of the most popular strains globally and quickly gets listed on the top when compiling excellent cannabis. The Kush strains have the “Stoning” indica, a user’s delight for its deeply relaxing and euphoric effects for many years.
Human beings have been enjoying Kush for thousands of years in their Himalayas homeland. Kush has impressive outstanding traits attributed to its strong genetics, giving users a compelling flavor, effect, and smell.
The plants grow shorter and bushier than other tall and slim sativa plants with broad leaves, thick stems, and laterally grown canopies. With dense, compact, and chunky flowers, the Kush cannabis has all the features of fantastic cannabis.
One thing you cannot miss with Kush is its great taste which makes users come back to it again and again. In addition, you are sure that getting a physical body high with this cannabis due to its 18% THC levels isn’t overwhelming for the user.
Kush smoking tip: this cannabis is best enjoyed in the evening. You will bask in its intense aroma, soothing effect, and physical high that keeps you excited all evening.
What is Haze Cannabis?
Haze is the perfect cannabis that completes the super trio cycle as it brings something different to the table. In contrast to the other two, Haze offers an energizing Sativa punch instead of getting stoned; you will most likely feel sleepy and lightheaded.
You are most likely to find Haze genetics lining the cannabis shelf in California dispensaries. The cultivars have gained traction within the last decade for the motivating and happy highs users enjoy.
Haze is higher in height when planted, yet growers can still keep them indoors while training and move them out later. The plants are also thinner colas full of trichomes with large expansive canopies. This cannabis plant has tall colas filled with sweet and citrus terpenes, which are cognitively energizing with 16% THC levels.
Haze smoking tip: Haze can be taken while working and going about your day in the afternoon because you are sure of not getting stoned.
Bottom line
Between Skunk, Kush, and Haze, which is better? It depends on the cannabis user as everyone has their peculiar preferences. For some users, they seek a cannabis flavor they can snuggle down with on a couch — something with good indica — while they enjoy their favorite pastime. Others desire something substantial as they take on a hike in the mountains or while surfing, a potent Sativa for the moment.
Skunk and Kush are somewhat similar as they both provide an intense high that relaxes your body and clears your mind. With both strains, you will also enjoy a boost in appetite, and they are perfect for an evening of relaxation and games.
Haze is different from Skunk and Kush in size and effects; they have to be grown outdoors and offer the best impact when taken during the day. As a result, you can be fully functional and engaged in daily activities while taking the Haze cannabis strain.
So what are you waiting for? Get one of the foundational cannabis strains (if you haven’t done that already) and enjoy the high!
A new study shows how important workouts are for a healthier and longer life.
A study finds the sweet spot in the amount of weekly exercise. The data was gathered over 100,000 patients and found just how much people should be working out in order to increase their lives. The answer is likely more than you originally thought.
The study found that people who followed the US Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation of working out between 150 – 300 per week had 20-21% of lower mortality risk. It also found that people who performed twice or four times more than that number had even more health benefits, suggesting that you can’t really work out too much.
The study was published in the journal Circulation with the aim of figuring out if “prolonged, vigorous or moderate intensity physical activity above the recommended levels” provided more benefits or if it had the potential to harm people. In order to see these results, researchers collected data of over 30 years of participants’ lives, acquiring a full picture of their lifestyles, activity levels and mortality rates.
Researchers gathered all available data on patients, including their BMIs, ages, medical history, diagnosed illnesses, and more. Participants also reported their personal habits and submitted exercise data.
The study found that adults who performed double the recommended range of workouts each week had the lowest risk of mortality, particularly in regards to cardiovascular diseases. There were no negative side effects associated with working out more than what’s recommended by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
“This finding may reduce the concerns around the potential harmful effect of engaging in high levels of physical activity observed in several previous studies,” said Dong Hoon Lee, Sc.D., M.S., research associate at Harvard.
Still, researchers don’t want people to overdo it in terms of exercise, taking this evidence and immediately linking longer workouts with a longer life, even though it is what it implies. They make it clear that sticking to the recommended minutes of workouts per week is sufficient for a healthy life, preventing diseases and taking care of your cardiovascular system.
Compared with users who mostly use lower-potency weed (about 5 to 10 milligrams per gram of THC), those who use THC-stronger cannabis are at greater risk of some mental health outcomes.
Cannabis consumers who tend to choose high potency weed for their pleasure, are at higher risk of becoming addicted or developing marijuana-caused psychosis, a new study shows.
“Overall, use of higher potency cannabis, relative to lower potency cannabis, was associated with an increased risk of psychosis and CUD [cannabis use disorder],” the authors wrote in the journal Lancet Psychiatry. “Evidence varied for depression and anxiety.”
Compared with users who mostly use lower-potency weed (about 5 to 10 milligrams per gram of THC), those who use THC-stronger cannabis are at greater risk of some mental health outcomes. Previously, Director of the National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA) Dr. Nora Volkow reported how scientists have established a “standard THC unit” of 5 milligrams of THC for research. That amount is considered to produce a mild intoxication for nor-regular users.
“One of the highest quality studies included in our publication found that use of high potency cannabis, compared to low potency cannabis, was linked to a four-fold increased risk of addiction,” said study co-author Tom Freeman, a senior lecturer in the department of psychology and director of the addiction and mental health group at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, told CNN.
As per data from the US Centers for Disease and Prevention, around three in 10 people in the U.S. who use marijuana have cannabis use disorder, while the risk of developing CUD is higher for those under the age of 18 who consume marijuana.
Consequences Of THC Strong Cannabis
Freeman highlighted that the data reveals a 76% increase in people entering treatment for cannabis addiction over the last 10 years, while at the same time marijuana potency also notably grew. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s World Drug Report 2022, THC has increased by 50% in herbal cannabis and almost tripled in cannabis resin over the last decade in Western and Central Europe, resulting in progressively evident health harms.
Freeman said that it is important to note that legal and labeled cannabis products can tell consumers the “precise potency” of THC, but those who buy cannabis illegally usually can’t obtain that information.
“However, certain types of cannabis are typically more potent than others,” he added. “Cannabis extracts are typically more potent than cannabis flower.”
According to Freeman, trying to adjust consumption with high potent cannabis by adding less marijuana to the joint or inhaling less deeply, doesn’t really work. “Higher higher potency products still deliver a larger dose of THC to consumers than lower potency products,” he said.
Freeman explained that psychosis is a “loss of contact with reality” that can be described by hearing voices or having delusions, and concluded that “the evidence linking cannabis potency to addiction and psychosis was very clear.”
To the knowledge of the study authors, this is the first systematic review of the association of cannabis potency with mental health and addiction. The researchers screened more than 4,150 articles, to find 20 that meet the eligibility.
A new study found links between cardiovascular conditions and a common activity a lot of people do on a daily basis.
Strokes and high blood pressure linked with his every day activity. A large study found a link between a variety of cardiovascular conditions and napping, puzzling a lot of people. Isn’t sounds sleep generally linked with healthier life?
The study is large and has prompted researchers to question about the nature of sleep, primarily, the time in which it takes place, something that has proved to be very important over the course of a person’s life.
Published in the journal Hypertension, the study had data from over 360,000 participants collected from UK Biobank between the years 2006 and 2010. These participants provided blood, urine, and saliva samples, while also answering a variety of questions about their sleep habits.
Researchers found that participants who napped during the day were 12% more likely to have high blood pressure and that they were 24% more likely to experience a stroke when compared to people who have never napped. Results were even worse with nappers over the age of 60, who were 20% more likely to develop high blood pressure when compared to those who didn’t nap.
While it would be easy to connect naps with poor cardiovascular health, researchers theorize that these results reflect a lack of sleep during the night.
“This may be because, although taking a nap itself is not harmful, many people who take naps may do so because of poor sleep at night. Poor sleep at night is associated with poorer health, and naps are not enough to make up for that,” said clinical psychologist Michael Grandner in a statement.
Researchers explain that beneficial power naps, between 12 to 20 minutes, are the most effective. A longer nap is discouraged since it’ll likely affect your sleep time during the evening and isn’t really considered a nap by sleep experts.
Apart from the surprise factor, these results are important since they highlight many questions that health experts should ask when meeting patients for their routine checkups, opening up risk factors and spaces for vulnerabilities.
There are several spinal conditions, and thanks to the evolving medical systems around the world, medical marijuana has been incorporated into the recommended drugs for these conditions in some countries.
Research shows that cannabinoids might play a vital role in treating the mental stress and physical injuries that come along with degenerative disc conditions.
What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?
DDD refers to a group of spinal illnesses that results in the degeneration/degradation of the spinal discs. These intervertebral discs are found in all major areas of the human spine. From the cervical to the thoracic, and the lumbar region.
The spinal column is made up of a total of 23 vertebral discs. These discs help you stay flexible, as they act as a shock between the bones.
From observation, as a person gets older, he/she loses his flexibility. This is because with time the spinal discs wear down and varying levels of pain are felt; depending on the origination of the pain.
Degenerative disc disease is a specific problem that a human undergoes when regular changes within the spinal disc cause pain. These problems may prompt other unique symptoms, but the most common symptom is pain.
A World Riddled With Back Pain
One of the leading causes of disability and chronic pain in the aging population around the world is back pain.
It results from multiple nervous system and musculoskeletal conditions. DDD affects a person’s quality of life and inhibits their ability to function efficiently in their respective place of work.
Why Does DDD Occur?
Strains due to daily activities
A person’s occupation, sports, and other repeated activities expose the musculoskeletal system and the spinal discs to strain due to excessive force.
Exercise helps people keep fit, however, too much of these activities can also add to the damage and leave out don’t, muscles, tissues, and spinal discs in an unhealthy shape.
Aging
The body’s ability to heal itself declines as its advance in age. At a certain age, cells being to lose their capacity to divide and proliferate. The regeneration of tissues gets slower. Degraded collagen is then accumulated throughout the body; some along the spinal column. Leaving the body exposed to DDD.
Genetics
Recent studies have identified that the presence of certain genes may leave an individual with a high risk of having degenerative disc diseases. The spinal disc located in the lower back has a high risk of degrading in an accelerated manner if there is 5A allele polymorphism.
Most times, patients only find relief when they lay on their backs.
How CBD Fits Into All Of This
Currently, different medications are accessible for treating back pain, especially NSAIDs. However, more studies are being carried out to determine the possibility of cannabis being a better treatment option for treating musculoskeletal conditions like degenerative disk disease.
For thousands of years, cannabis has been used traditionally to treat a host of physical and mental conditions. The intriguing plant has resinous flowers which are loaded with over 100 cannabinoids and 200 terpenes. Cannabidiol (CBD) seems to be the most promising cannabinoids from the various clinical trials.
Observed Impacts Of CBD On DDD
Reduces inflammation
DDD induces the release of inflammatory molecules to the affected areas. CBD is an anti-inflammatory compound that will inhibit the dispersal of inflammatory molecules to the affected areas. With this, it accelerates the healing response of the body.
In 2014, a study suggested the potential of CBD to stop, reduce and hold back the inflammatory response of the body that increases swelling and pain. Researchers were able to establish the any-degenerative effects of CBD at the end of their research. They also went on to suggest that CBD is better suited to treat the condition, with emphasis laid on the non-psychoactive status of the compound and the minimal risk attached.
Stimulates the endocannabinoid system and increases anandamide production
CBD reacts with the ECS receptors, CB1 and CB2, which can be found all over the body in high concentrations present in the immune and nervous systems. These reactions reduce the prevents the degradation of anandamide.
Anandamide is commonly called the “bliss molecule”.
Photo by IRA_EVVA/Getty Images
By slowing down its degradation, the molecule stays longer in the body system—Relieving pain and inflammatory effects that play a role in DDD healing.
One thing about chronic pain and DDD is that it could lead to mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and catastrophization. These disorders leave the patient in a bad mental state. This is another point anandamide comes in. It uplifts the mood of the patient long enough to improve his/her psychological state.
Research carried out years ago states that CBD reduces symptoms of stress, this way it alters the way a patient perceives and deals with pain.
Observed Side-Effects Of CBD On DDD
This varies depending on the sensitivity and tolerance of a person to cannabis compounds. These side effects include;
Fatigue
Memory loss
Reduced appetite
Mood swings
Paranoia
Dizziness
Bottom Line
While we understand that DDD is a complex and very wide disease condition, it is important to note that it doesn’t equate to tissue damage.
It is possible to have experienced none of these symptoms of DDD and have a considerable degeneration in your spinal discs. In the same way, it is possible to have a few symptoms and be in the clear.
In addition to this, those who feel a high level of pain are predisposed to negative mental states.
Fortunately, now we know that CBD has the potential to provide both physical and mental relief to the patients — just more reasons for the medical bodies to approve the use of CBD in treating degenerative disc disease.
With further research, added therapeutic benefits will be uncovered and utilized to formulate the right dose and administration method needed.
The new legislation could directly impact an ongoing case against the DEA after the federal agency refused to grant psilocybin access for the treatment of terminally-ill cancer patients.
On July 20, bipartisan lawmakers from both chambers of Congress sent companion bills clarifying that federal Right to Try (RTT) laws give terminally-ill patients access to Schedule I substances including marijuana and psychedelics. The DEA is pressured to allow access to psychedelics and weed by Congress. The legislation’s lead sponsors are Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY) together with Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Nancy Mace (R-SC).
As Marijuana Moment first revealed, the measures would constitute a technical amendment to the original law’s text, yet its main aim is to clarify that the measure—signed by former President Donald Trump—actually translates to terminally-ill patients being allowed to get and use Schedule I drugs that have undergone clinical trials.
The new legislation could directly impact an ongoing case against the DEA after the federal agency refused to grant psilocybin access for the treatment of terminally-ill cancer patients.
It is relevant to remember that research on psilocybin, MDMA and cannabis has greatly advanced in clinical trials for mental health conditions in recent years. Even more, the two psychedelics have received the status of breakthrough therapies by the FDA.
Specifically, the new bill discusses the point that RTT laws apply “to schedule I substances for which a phase I clinical trial has been completed and to provide access for eligible patients to such substances.”
In this sense, Sen. Booker stated in a press release that “recent studies suggest that MDMA and psilocybin could represent an enormous advancement in mental health and psychopharmacology,” and that “this legislation will put the patient first and help ensure access to life-changing and life-saving drugs.”
Sen. Paul added: “As a physician, I know how important Right to Try is for patients facing a life-threatening condition. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation with Sen. Booker that will get government out of the way and give doctors more resources to help patients.”
On his behalf, Rep. Blumenauer said that “patients and doctors deserve to discuss treatments that researchers find provide immediate and sustained relief from pain, anxiety, and depression for people battling terminal illness,” while he agrees on former congressmen’s declarations on the fact that “federal restrictions have obstructed access to end-of-life care for too long.” He expects that the introduced legislation will change that “and ensure that all patients have the Right to Try.”
