Weed Etiquette For Roommates

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August 17, 2022

There are some drawbacks to living with another person, especially if you two do not live similar lifestyles or have different views on cannabis usage in the home. Here’s how to deal with it.

Marijuana legalization has liberated those who regularly use cannabis and live in states where it has recently become legal. While recreational marijuana has eliminated a lot of difficulties and roadblocks for those who indulge in smoking weed, it has created some new challenges, and magnified a few existing conflicts. One area that has grown increasingly more complicated is weed etiquette in the home when you have a roommate.

Having a roommate certainly has its pros and cons: they split your rent, walk your dog, and listen to you when you have something (or nothing at all) to say. There are, however, some drawbacks to living with another person, especially if you two do not live similar lifestyles or have different views on cannabis usage in the home. If you have a roommate, this might have you wondering what proper weed etiquette is these days now that we are in this new age of cannabis freedom.

Check the Lease

Before you start wondering what is polite or impolite, you should first determine what is allowed and what is prohibited in your rental. More and more properties have very clear smoking policies. No-smoking policies do not simply refer to cigarettes. They can also apply to marijuana, and do not necessarily have to specify the type of smoke, as long as they are specific about the rules.

How To Smoke Weed When Living With Parents Or Disapproving Roommates — Photo by cottonbro via Pexels

According to the legal website Nolo, “A clear no-smoking policy prohibits all forms of smoking, including smoking marijuana for medical reasons.” These no-tolerance smoking policies are quite serious.

If you signed the lease and agreed to no-smoking terms, the violation can land you on the street. “A landlord who has included a no-smoking policy in a lease or rental agreement can terminate the tenancy of or evict a tenant who smokes,” the article continues. Make sure you are aware of your lease and its fine print, especially if you have a roommate or neighbor who is likely to rat you out to your landlord for smoking.

Keep Things Ventilated and Prevent Secondhand Smoke

Once you establish what is allowed and what is forbidden, you can move on to the “should” and “should nots” of smoking weed when you have a roommate. One thing you should always make sure of before sparking up a joint in your home is proper ventilation. Proper ventilation will prevent smoke from circulating throughout the home. The best policy is to smoke by an open window with a fan on.

This is important, as your roommate might be worried about secondhand marijuana smoke. Getting high or failing a drug test from secondhand smoke is unlikely unless you are in a sealed room with lots of marijuana smoke. Even so, that does not mean a strong scent won’t upset or worry your roommate – especially if he or she may need to pass a drug test at some point.

According to Healthline, “catching a whiff of marijuana fragrance through your apartment window or entering a room where people were smoking several hours ago is very unlikely (maybe even impossible) to affect you at all.” So proper ventilation, and keeping the smoke flowing out the window as much as possible will help keep things safe and calm.

Smoking Marijuana — Photo by Fiordaliso/Getty Images

Kill the Smell

Ventilation also helps get rid of the smell, and the smell can be the biggest gripe from a roommate who doesn’t smoke weed. If marijuana smell and usage is causing friction in the home, do your best to eliminate the issue. The odds are, the smell of weed and accessories are the main source of frustration from your roommate. Keeping your weed and accessories stashed in your room out of sight is always the best policy to keep the home looking (and smelling) great for everyone.

As we have previously reported, there are all sorts of ways to get rid of and hide the smell of weed, from fragrance sprays to open windows.

Remember that even if weed is legal in the state where you live, it doesn’t mean you should be hotboxing your apartment, especially if you have roommates. If marijuana smoke is a point of contention between you and your roommate, consider alternatives like vaping or edibles. After all, marijuana should alleviate the stress in your life, not cause it.

Marijuana Workers Conflicted, Cash In Or Educate Customers?

Benzinga Staff Writer

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August 17, 2022

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Marijuana Workers Conflicted, Cash In Or Educate Customers?

By Joana Scopel

A new study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers indicates that despite a commitment by dispensary workers to educate users about medical cannabis, dispensaries often prioritize sales over education and the level of on-the-job training at dispensaries is notably uneven.

“If the results are confirmed by a larger, quantitative study, they obligate the medical community to ensure patients have reliable sources of guidance about medical cannabis,” said the study authors. ”Patients with cancer are using cannabis for medical purposes — and oncology teams tend to offer little guidance about its use — patients are often turning for advice from staff at cannabis dispensaries.”

About The Study

The study, published in the journal JCO Oncology Practice, is based on accurate interviews with 26 workers at cannabis dispensaries in 13 states. Researchers conducted phone interviews with employees on positions as managers, and consumer experience.

This Iconic Chain Restaurant Could Be Your New Dispensary — Photo by Health Korvola via Getty

“Our study opens the door to discussing that we as clinicians may not be able to completely defer responsibility for advising patients to the dispensaries,” said Ilana Braun, MD, the study’s first author and a physician at Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “We need to figure out ways to address this issue.”

The results revealed a hearty dedication to their field. However, inconsistent level of cannabis therapeutics training among dispensary staff was notorious.

“The dispensary personnel we interviewed are really passionate about what they’re doing and are trying really hard to give good advice. They’re working hard in their off hours, paying for their own coursework, and doing whatever they can to learn,” Dr. Braun added.

According to the researchers, dispensaries often make hiring decisions based more on sales skills than expertise in cannabis therapeutics. Many dispensary workers said that workplace training in cannabis therapeutics was unstandardized and weak.

“We’re hearing from patients that they want this information from their oncology team,” study co-author Manan Nayak, Ph.D., of Dana-Farber said.

“Right now, the system is set up so that everyone—oncologists and dispensary personnel—is working in silos. It falls to the patient to find out where to go, get information from dispensary personnel, try different products, and maybe report back to their oncologist. The onus is often on the patient to communicate with the dispensary. There needs to be a way to close the loop between the dispensary and the clinical team,” Nayak added.

More Legal Marijuana Equals Less Crime? Not So Fast — Photo by nattrass/Getty Images

The Key: Cannabis Education

A previous study by Braun and her colleagues noted that “although 80% of the oncologists we surveyed discussed medical marijuana with patients and nearly half recommended the use of the agent clinically, less than 30% of the total sample actually consider themselves knowledgeable enough to make such recommendations.”

In the absence of clinical guidance, dispensary personnel often become the default source of information on medical cannabis, the research suggested.

In a 2020 article based on interviews with cancer patients, Braun’s team found that almost all respondents received the majority of their medical cannabis advice from non-medical sources, primarily dispensary staff, on topics ranging from the doses to the properties of the different strains.

“If patients are being deferred to the dispensaries, we wanted to know who works there, how they’re trained, and what they tell patients with cancer,” Braun concluded.

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

A Walk After Eating Reduces Odds Of Getting This Disease

Maria Loreto

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August 16, 2022

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A Walk After Eating Reduces Odds Of Getting This Disease

New research shows that there are significant benefits to going for a walk right after a meal.

A walk after eating reducing odds of get this this disease. It is an activity that provides plenty of health benefits. According to some new evidence, when done right after a meal, the activity can help diabetics and can even prevent the appearance of type 2 diabetes.

Published in the journal Sports Medicine, the study was a meta-analysis of seven different studies. It found that walking had a direct impact on people’s insulin and blood sugar levels, thus impacting the risk of diabetes.

Eating This Meal Twice Might Increase Your Odds Of Cancer — Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes via Unsplash

While the studies had different participants and parameters, they tracked people’s responses after sitting, standing up, walking, and more throughout the day. In five of the studies, participants didn’t have diabetes or pre-diabetes, while in the other two they were accounted for.

Those who walked right after consuming meals saw gradual changes in their blood sugar levels. When these walks were committed within 60 to 90 minutes after a meal, results were even stronger and better for all involved. Results showed that benefits were reaped even after walking for 1 or 2 minutes after a meal, showing that everyone has control over this part of their diet and can complete a brief walk whether they’re in the office or at home.

These results are particularly important for diabetics, who must prevent sudden spikes in their blood levels. Still, they’re also beneficial to healthy adults, since these sudden changes can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Aside from helping diabetics and those who are at higher risk for the disease, walks have been linked with a variety of positive behaviors, including maintaining your weight, improving your mood and energy levels, and positively affecting your cardiovascular health, which is the number 1 cause of death in the country.

Nitrogen Infusion In Cannabis: Debunking Myths

Cannabusiness

MyCannabis

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August 16, 2022

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Nitrogen Infusion In Cannabis: Debunking Myths

The average cannabis consumer is typically not educated on the use of nitrogen and why the gas is crucial in packaging

By Thom Brodeur

A sealed bag of potato chips isn’t really full of air–it’s loaded with nitrogen to protect those chips from losing their crispness. The “air” or empty space in the bag is what the manufacturing industry calls “slack fill.” For decades, the bags have been filled with this preservative gas to keep products fresh, and since it’s good enough for potato chips, here’s why it’s critical for cannabis.

When oxygen enters cannabis packaging, the flower is at risk of weight degradation, loss of freshness and susceptible to developing mold and other potentially harmful microbes. Nitrogen has been an extremely prevalent additive to food products and general consumer packaged goods globally for over a century. Nitrogen makes up 78% of the air we breathe – yet many consumers lack awareness of its impact on our packaging.

According to a survey conducted by the Brightfield Group, the average cannabis consumer is typically not educated on the use of nitrogen and why the gas is crucial in packaging. The survey questioned cannabis consumers and budtenders and found there are some common myths surrounding nitrogen:

First: Nitrogen is not safe to breathe in and is not environmentally friendly in my product’s container
Second: Nitrogen will freeze my cannabis product, and reduce or alter its potency
Third: When packaging is sealed with nitrogen, it creates an environment for mold growth

Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is found in all living things. It is safe to breathe in and ingest. In fact, the food and beverage industry has been utilizing the nitrogen dosing method for decades as it pushes any oxygen out of the packaging, preserving the contents inside. Like other food additives, nitrogen has gone through rigorous safety assessment before it is ascertained as safe for food use.

The Joint Food and Agriculture Organization / World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has evaluated the safety of food-grade nitrogen and considered that it is safe upon normal consumption when used in foods following Good Manufacturing Practice — the same applies to using nitrogen to dose cannabis packaging. So, the next time you crack open a cold beer, or order your favorite nitro-brew coffee, remember that the rich or creamy mouthful is contributed by the nitrogen.

Nitrogen does not have freezing powers in a gas form — in respect to the second myth — only as a liquid. The nitrogen does not affect the cannabis’ potency. By modifying the atmosphere inside the package, cannabis packaging with nitrogen preserves quality, slows down spoilage and extends the products’ shelf life. Nitrogen also cushions and protects the delicate flower inside from being crushed during handling.

cannabis dispensary — Photo by Zummolo/Getty Images

Tackling the final myth, the package must be sealed tightly to prevent the nitrogen from escaping. Once the package is unsealed, the cannabis is exposed to atmospheric air containing oxygen and moisture. With the lack of nitrogen protection in a controlled environment, the contents are then prone to moisture pickup, spoilage and oxidation. Therefore, it is best to consume the products soon once the package is opened.

The next time you open a bag of potato chips and discover that the bag only fills about half of the package, you’ll know that it’s not just a marketing ploy to increase sales, but that the extra air space in the package is there for protection against damage during handling.

As the nitrogen infusion cannabis packaging industry advances, it will continue to consider how it might become a more recognized CPG product and embrace the technologies that CPG develops in order to gain customer acceptability.

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

How To Choose Weed Other Than By Strain

Maria Loreto

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August 16, 2022

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Marijuana strains are the most straightforward way to catalog cannabis, even if these labels aren’t the most accurate.

Marijuana users and sellers put a lot of weight in strains. With more legal weed, these labels have become increasingly meaningless But not accounting for terpene levels and cannabinoids, they’re the easiest way of cataloging weed and its effects which helps buyers. But how to choose weed other than the strain?

Finding a different way to choose marijuana is not easy, but it’s possible if you account for different factors and are willing to approach cannabis through your senses. Here’s how to choose weed by judging for factors other than strain.

It’s all up to the brand

Why You Can't Buy Edibles In New Jersey — Photo by Stefan Tomic/Getty

Now that weed companies are popping up, cannabis growers and makers have a better understanding of cannabis. These brands are now trying to market the products in ways that are more accessible to different users, and more accurate to the experience of consuming them. Companies are now describing aroma profiles, taste, and more, trying to provide the most accurate description of products that gets people to purchase them.

Choose by smell and feel

The Incredible Truth About Marijuana And Bladder Cancer — Photo by Sezeryadigar/Getty Images

The smell and look of cannabis can help determine whether or not you’ll enjoy it or if you’ll like the taste. These factors also show whether or not the product is of good quality. Make sure the weed you want to buy has a strong and pleasant smell and that the bud is sticky and doesn’t fall apart easily in your fingers.

Know your terpenes

marijuana flower — Photo by Christina Hempfling / EyeEm/Getty Images

Terpenes are aromatic molecules present in different plants. In the case of cannabis, they affect its smell, taste, and effect, and are what makes one cannabis plant different from another. Terpenes’ interactions with cannabinoids are what produce the plant’s effects. You can read on more here to understand terpenes’ effects further.

Ask your budtender or your friends

Should Budtenders Be Required To Educate Public Over Health Effects Of Cannabis? — Photo by Heath Korvola/Getty Images

If you don’t know a lot about weed, it can be difficult to know what makes a cannabis bud good or bad, or whether or not you’ll like it. While cannabis affects people in different ways, someone’s opinion on the drug and the way it feels can help you determine if that’s something you’re interested in trying out.

Trial and error

Lastly, the best way to determine if you like a type of weed or not is to try it. It’s too simple an explanation but it’s the most accurate one, especially since weed expresses itself differently depending on the user. In short, if you like the way it smells and feels, you’ll likely like the way it affects you, so that’s a good place to start.

RICO Charges: Once Reserved For The Mafia Now A Familiar Anti-Cannabis Industry Tactic

Cannabusiness

Benzinga Staff Writer

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August 16, 2022

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RICO Charges: Once Reserved For The Mafia Now A Familiar Anti-Cannabis Industry Tactic

The cost of fighting charges can be staggering, making it a common tool of anti-cannabis movements and individuals.

By Andrew Ward

Charges stemming from the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act have long been a looming threat in the cannabis industry. Coming from civil, state and federal levels, the charges have been used as a method to stymie cannabis operations, whether just or not.

Established in 1970, US RICO charges were initially meant to pursue high profile mob bosses, but now cover a range of offenses, including gambling, money laundering, slavery, racketeering and a slew of other illegal business allegations.

To date, most cannabis RICO cases have been unsuccessful. Still, the process can do immense damage to brands.

legal marijuana — Photo by MasterKeySystem/Getty Images

While cannabis companies have turned the tables using RICO charges at times, the industry remains primarily in the crosshairs. In July, four Arkansas operators saw charges filed by three medical patients alleging overstated THC potencies.

Should The Industry Be Concerned?

Responses from operators and legal professionals varied when asked if the industry should fear or worry additional RICO charges.

Most agreed the still federally illegal industry faced risks for RICO and other federal charges. However, sentiment varied about who should be afraid, noting the importance of compliance and the largely failed track record of RICO charges so far.

“All cannabis companies should fear the potential of federal organized crime-type charges,” said Papa & Barkley CEO Guy Rocourt, noting the ongoing federal laws against cannabis.

Meg Nash, counsel for firm Vicente Sederberg is also concerned about federal law.

“As long as cannabis remains federally illegal, there is always some risk that aggrieved individuals will seek to use the RICO statute as a basis for asserting claims against cannabis brands.”

Nash added that RICO cases against cannabis companies have traditionally not fared well for the Feds, “due to the many elements that comprise the cause of action.”

Recent examples include a California federal judge acquitting a cannabis company on charges of moving products on a shared road in Santa Barbara County, with the judge noting the county failed to demonstrate the harm it experienced.

In May 2020, 226 Orgeon cannabis companies beat racketeering charges filed by a woman claiming that a nextdoor cannabis processor had harmed her in some way in 2018.

Victory for the prosecution comes at a cost as well.

“The reality is federal RICO Act civil suits are very costly to initiate and prosecute and very difficult to win,” said Craig Small senior attorney at Clark Hill’s Denver office. Small said most federal RICO civil suits are dismissed with a small fraction resulting in settlements or judgments against the defense.

legal cannabis marijuana — Photo by matt_benoit/Getty Images

Despite the reported low success rate, RICO charges can damage acquitted parties.

Clark Wu, Esq., an attorney for Bianchi & Brandt, said “cookie-cutter allegations” with focuses on security or nuisance-type charges, like alleged odors, have not fared well in court.

Still, the cost of fighting charges can be staggering, making it a common tool of anti-cannabis movements and individuals. If a company loses their case, it can be on the hook for up to three times the damages. Win, and the company must face expensive legal bills.

Facing expensive outcomes either way, Wu noted that many cannabis brands opt to settle before reaching court.

Mislabeled Cannabis Products

Wu said that the Arkansas case follows similar charges regarding the illegal status of cannabis operations. However, he said “the suit pivots from the traditional angles to attack a trending issue: the inflation of THC claims in cannabis products.”

Mislabeling has been an ongoing issue with various cannabinoids.

In recent years, the CBD space has found itself in the crosshairs of damning studies:

A 2017 Penn University analysis of CBD products sold online found fully 70% were mislabeled.
In 2022, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers tested more than 100 OTC CBD products. Only 89 of the products listed CBD potency on the label. Just 24% of products were accurately labeled, with in-store products averaging 21% more CBD than advertised.

From labs to sales shelves, the willingness to misrepresent products appears to stem from a desire to appeal to customers and stay in business.

Roger Brown, president and founder of ACS Laboratory said the sources of mislabeled products come from growers and suppliers seeking labs willing to produce higher THC results. He reports losing “significant business” as companies seek to work with labs providing the most favorable THC and cannabinoid profile results.

Brown pointed to certain state budgets that prevent adequate enforcement.

“The regulators look at the results, chromatograms and data but not how the data is gained or gathered,” he said, adding the status quo breeds contempt for the program’s rules and regulations.

Most professionals Benzinga spoke with indicated they felt that RICO charges were extreme in cases like the four Arkansas operators. However, they believe that some form of punishment is needed to deter any industry long-struggling with mislabeled products.

Marijuana Underage Sales Check Experience A Drop, Concerning Marijuana Regulators — Photo by Megaflopp/Getty Images

Brown feels additional charges will come to brands alleged of knowingly misrepresenting products. Not everyone agreed.

Matthew Morgan, a cannabis industry advisor who has helped co-found several brands, including Ignite International Brands Ltd and Green Axis Capital, views Arkansas as an isolated incident.

“I believe cannabis is very low on the list of priorities for the Federal Government,” said Morgan, noting that regulators “Have much bigger concerns to address.”

No matter the case, Vicente Sederberg’s Nash does not see much of the industry at risk, noting a largely industry-wide compliance to state and federal rules.

“To the extent that any cannabinoid misrepresentation occurs in the cannabis space, it is the exception and not the rule,” said Nash.

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

Should I Buy Weed From A Dealer Or Dispensary?

Terry Hacienda

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August 16, 2022

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Should I Buy Weed From A Dealer Or Dispensary?

There are a number of pros that favor the use of dealers (not that we are advising you to) and also those that favor dispensaries.

The question of where to get weed from should be expected to have a straightforward answer, right? Wrong. For many cannabis users, the choice of where to get a desired product remains a big issue that many haven’t settled. Some are unaware of the benefits that getting cannabis from a trusted source brings. Here’s what you need to know before making a decision.

Sources of Cannabis Products

The emergence of legislation that allowed for recreational marijuana and medical marijuana promoted the growth of cannabis dispensaries. Before this period, the illegal classification of marijuana meant that it was sourced from illicit markets that are unregulated. Many cannabis users today grew to believe that dealers are the only available source of marijuana. However, the prominence of legal markets in different states in the country has opened up cannabis dispensaries as the accepted source.

Dealers have wrongly been seen by many as stoners who are by the roadside or in shady places exchanging ditch weed. The advent of legalization has seen many cannabis dealers upgrade with the trend and the value of their services. This has repeatedly kept them relevant in the market among cannabis users despite the fact that their activities are illegal. Most dealers in the market are more sophisticated than ever before. They have a wide range of selected products to offer which makes them an option for many cannabis users.

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

Cannabis dispensaries are the structured framework under accepted regulations licensed to dispense and provide cannabis products. Dispensaries have budtenders who provide customers with adequate information on the strains as well as expected effects. More cannabis dispensaries are being opened in legal states nationwide with some providing delivery services.

Dealer or Dispensary

The choice between either getting cannabis products from the dealer or dispensary depends on different factors. There are a number of pros that favor the use of dealers (not that we are advising you to) and also those that favor dispensaries. In order to be fair, we will look at some of these factors holistically and see how both sources look with respect to the factors.

Legality

This is perhaps the most important factor that characterizes these sources of cannabis products. While dealers are legally backed by regulation agencies, dealers are characterized as illicit, unregulated, or grey markets. Cannabis users who purchase products legally from dispensaries are free of worry as they are on the right side of the law. This is however not the same for those who possess cannabis illicitly from cannabis dealers. Though it seems regulation bodies haven’t been too tight on those who patronize dealers in states with the legal market, a simple move could correct that. The implications can be very bad for those caught on the wrong side.

Availability

Dealers mirror less the community pharmacies when it comes to cannabis products. This is because they are close to the users and readily made the drug available. Dealers are present in the cities and states and perform delivery services which prompt many users to use their services. Cannabis dispensaries are less mobile as only a few have delivery services which means most times users need to physically to the dispensaries. This can be a downside for some cannabis users who are seeking privacy.

Price

Price is a major factor that tends to affect the choice most users make on where to get their cannabis products. Dealers as expected have lower prices for their products which attract many users to patronize them. Dispensaries on the other hand have higher prices for their products. This is largely due to the presence of excise, sales, and local taxes on the products. Likewise, cannabis dispensaries also need to pay for staff and other logistic requirements which have an effect on their prices.

buying marijuana — Photo by athima tongloom/Getty Images

Environmental Sustainability

This factor is more of a continuation for prices in terms of cannabis dispensaries. The tax levied on cannabis products is being used by the government for environmental sustainability. It is readily used to promote health, education, drug abuse research, and so on. Dealers on the other hand have the leadership potential for environmental sustainability. This is because their activities tend to deplete the integrity of structures within the environment.

Safety and Quality

Cannabis dealers provide users with products which safety and quality cannot be verified. Users get products that they have no inkling as to their source or constituents. Some of these products can have serious health risks to the user thanks to the presence of pesticides, heavy metals, and other residues. Alongside, dealers give estimates of the THC potency of products which can be false as there are no testing processes performed on the products. Products procured from cannabis dispensaries on the other hand are very safe as they would have passed through different stages of analysis to establish the safety of the products. Such products are free from harmful materials like pesticides and heavy metals. The quality of the products is also assured as proper testing is carried out to ascertain the potency of the product.

Bottom Line

The truth is, the choice of where to procure your products ultimately lies with you. However, considering the factors laid down above, there seems to be only one logical choice. This is the choice that keeps your civic character in the proper state by not putting you at loggerheads with the law. This is the choice that ensures that the proceeds of your procurement go towards the sustenance of your community and environment. This is the choice that ensures you get products that are safe to use without health risks. This is the choice that ensures that what you ordered or required is what was delivered. We need not say more, as you already know the choice to make.

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

Colombian President Discusses Releasing Cannabis Prisoners & Legally Exporting The Drug

Maria Loreto

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August 15, 2022

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Colombian President Discusses Releasing Cannabis Prisoners & Legally Exporting The Drug

Recently, Gustavo Petro talked about the perks of legalizing cannabis and possibly releasing prisoners involved with these types of offenses.

Gustavo Petro, the newly elected President of Colombia, is talking about potentially legalizing cannabis during his first weeks in office.

In a summit with the country’s mayors during this past week, Petro talked about the perks of legalizing cannabis and possibly releasing those who have been incarcerated in relation to the drug.

https://twitter.com/angelgonzalezvn/status/1557816841829064709

“Let’s see if by exporting cannabis we make a few dollars because in part of the world the drug is legal,” said Petro in a translation per Noticias RCN. “Why can’t the farmers from Cauca plant cannabis?,” he said, referring to a region in Colombia where farming is a big part of the business.

Petro compared Colombia’s possible cannabis market with that of Canada. He also called out the United States, using it as an example where cannabis is legal in almost half of the country.

Regarding those who’ve been incarcerated due to cannabis-related offenses, Petro said, “If we’re going to legalize cannabis, are we going to allow all of those people who’ve been imprisoned to remain in jail? Or is it time to release those people?”

This marks one of the first instances where Petro refers to cannabis by its name, and shares some of the benefits and consequences of legalizing the drug. In July, the Colombian senate introduced a legalization bill that provided a plan for legalizing the plant’s adult use and that could also provide some income for the country.

In Petro’s inaugural speech, he called for taking back drug policies that have long harmed the country and have caused deaths, and increased the drug problem all over Latin America. “For peace to be possible in Colombia, we need dialogue and understanding, to look for common paths and produce changes,” he said. “Peace is possible if you change, for example, the politics against drugs.”

“It’s time for a new international convention that accepts that the war on drugs has failed,” he said. “Of course peace is possible. But it depends on current drug policies being substituted with strong measures that prevent consumption in developed societies.”

Petro was elected as President this past June 19th. He is the first President of Colombia to be a part of the left and is a polarizing figure, having been a part of M-19, a Colombian guerrilla group.

Majority Of Texans Support Legalizing Recreational Weed, But They Support This Even More

Benzinga Staff Writer

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August 15, 2022

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Majority Of Texans Support Legalizing Recreational Weed, But They Support This Even More

In Texas, possession of up to 2 ounces is still considered a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

By Nina Zdinjak

The majority of Texans support legalization of adult-use marijuana, according to a new Dallas Morning News-University of Texas at Tyler poll. Of those surveyed, 55% said they either support or strongly support legalization, reported Dallas Morning News.

What about medical marijuana? You guessed it, support is even broader with some 72% of those questioned confirming they support or strongly support legalization of the plant for medicinal purposes. Wait, didn’t The Lone Star State already legalize medical cannabis use?

Current Cannabis Laws In Texas

Well, though medical cannabis is somewhat legal in the state, it is strictly regulated. Only patients with conditions such as cancer, autism, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and multiple sclerosis qualify to use medical marijuana. What’s more, in 2021, there were some 7,000 MMJ patients in the state registry and only 348 doctors that can prescribe medical cannabis.

texas cannabis — Photo by PromesaArtStudio/Getty Images

Texas first legalized medical marijuana some seven years ago, under the Compassionate Use Act, which allowed patients with intractable epilepsy to acquire and use cannabis oil with less than 0.5%. The program has been expanded since then, with more qualifying conditions, and allowing 1% THC in MMJ products.

Even though previous surveys showed similar results, Governor Greg Abbott’s stance has not moved much. In January, Abbott agreed to reduce criminal penalty for marijuana possession to a Class C misdemeanor, but not legalize. In Texas, possession of up to 2 ounces is still considered a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. More than 2 ounces could result in up to a year in jail, while more than 4 ounces is considered a felony.

Recent Poll Key Takeaways

The poll used a statewide random sample of 1,384 registered voters, and was conducted between Aug. 1 and 7.

When it comes to support across political party lines, Democrats lead the way in supporting recreational cannabis legalization with 38% strongly backing legalization and 27% supporting it, compared to 26% and 17% of Republicans, respectively.

The poll also revealed that 12% of Democrats and 32% of Republicans are strongly against the legalization of recreational cannabis use.

“If they legalized it, you’re gonna have a dispensary pop up on every corner in our town, and that’s not really something that I look forward to seeing every day,” said Republican Edwin Kirby, who lives in Tyler.“With the drug problems we have now with young kids, that’s just gonna add fuel to the fire.”

Laurie Richardson, a Democrat in Frisco who responded to the Morning News-UT-Tyler poll, on the other hand, recognizes the medical benefits of marijuana. And even though she’s never consumed, she is aware that cannabis prohibition doesn’t work.

Is Texas Ready To Become The Stoned Star State In 2021? — Photo by Bo Zaunders/Getty Images

“We tried to prohibit alcohol, and then you have all these people trying to create their own alcohol and people getting alcohol poisoning — I feel the same way with marijuana,” Richardson said. “I just don’t think you’re gonna be able to stop people from accessing it if they want it. I think it needs to be treated almost like alcohol.”

When it comes to medical marijuana, the difference is not as huge. Some 49% of Democrats and 35% of Republicans strongly back legalization, which compares to 8% of Democrats and 13% of Republicans that are against it.

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

Is Cannabis A Threat To Alcohol Sales? It’s Complicated But Here’s What The Experts Say

Benzinga Staff Writer

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August 15, 2022

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Is Cannabis A Threat To Alcohol Sales? It’s Complicated But Here’s What The Experts Say

Consumer attitudes show that consumption occasions for alcohol and cannabis differ enough that the supposed threat to alcohol sales posed by legal cannabis is minor.

By Maureen Meehan

With the U.S. legal cannabis industry on track to pull in upwards of $46 billion by 2026, many in the alcohol and beverage space are eyeing the cannabis industry as a unique opportunity to expand and reach new consumers although there are just as many who are ill at ease over the impact this could have on alcohol sales.

Roy Bingham, co-founder and CEO of BDSA, said there’s no need for anyone to worry, that coexistence is where it’s at these days. BDSA is the leading provider of market research solutions for the global cannabinoid industry.

“Today, more consumers are pairing cannabis with alcohol than ever before, especially when relaxing or hanging out with friends,” Bingham said.

Consumption of cannabis by alcohol consumers is on the rise per BDSA’s Consumer Insights data, but consumer attitudes also show that consumption occasions for alcohol and cannabis differ enough that the supposed threat to alcohol sales posed by legal cannabis is minor. The number of cannabis consumers who report co-consuming cannabis with certain types of alcohol has seen an appreciable rise.

Anti-Marijuana Folks Credit Legalization To Alcohol-Related Deaths — Photo by Adam Jaime via Unsplash

“We’ve also seen a rise in more unexpected use occasions as consumers branch out and use cannabis in new ways, such as while indulging in fine dining or working out. This shift offers a unique opportunity for brands to focus on innovation and create new products to meet these varied use occasions,” Bingham told Benzinga.

Additional BDSA insights show that cannabis and alcohol are doing just fine together:

The share of consumers in adult-use markets who report pairing cannabis with spirits or liquor rose from 12% in Spring 2018 to 22% in Spring 2022, while the share who report cannabis with cocktails doubled to total 20% in Spring 2022.

High energy social occasions such as bar nights, special events, and date nights present a lower risk of cannabis impact to alcohol sales, while consumption for health/wellness, creative endeavors, and certain outdoor activities are more often cannabis-specific.

Continued growth in the cannabis space will create opportunities for brands to produce products with targeted formulations designed to meet the varied needs and use occasions for consumers.

BDSA’s newest wave of Consumer Insights data demonstrates that more than 50% of those surveyed in cannabis-legal states have consumed cannabis in the past six months. Diving deeper into the data clearly shows that the cannabis consumer base is knowledgeable, open to trying new product formats and willing to experiment with incorporating cannabis into more occasions throughout their lives.

Marijuana Is Replacing Alcohol During The Pandemic And May Have Long Term Benefits — Photo by Cavan Images/Getty Images

In just a few short years, BDSA noted that attitudes towards cannabis across the country have shifted rapidly, with the share of those who have “bought in” to cannabis consumption skyrocketing while fewer and fewer report not being open to consuming cannabis.

Overall consumer participation is lower in medical markets, but BDSA data suggest that consumer participation is growing at a similar rate.

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

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