“It is important for both coaches and athletes to consider whether athlete performance is highly dependent on short-term power output,” researchers said.
A new study, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, found that women who are regular cannabis users do not produce as much anaerobic power as those who don’t partake, even when active and fit.
Researchers from the University of Northern Colorado set out to determined if chronic cannabis use in physically active, female athletes creates changes in their health performance. They compared 12 healthy female cannabis users with 12 nonusers. Both groups were 19 to 34 years old and regularly engaged in resistance and aerobic training.
Related to the pulmonary function, strength and power assessment, and c-reactive protein concentrations between cannabis users and non-users, researchers did not observe significant differences.
“There were no differences between groups with respect to body size, body composition, pulmonary function, cardiorespiratory function, or muscular strength,” said the authors of the cross-sectional study.
The findings showed that marijuana users “produced significantly less power” during the first two states of the Wingate test assessment, which determine peak anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity.
Cannabis users showed 18% less power during the first five seconds of pedaling and 20% less power during the second five-second period, compared to non-cannabis users.
“It is important for both coaches and athletes to consider whether athlete performance is highly dependent on short-term power output,” the researchers said.
However, despite the lower potency, regular marijuana users also “experienced significantly less anaerobic fatigue,” concluded the study.
Athletete Cannabis Users
There is proven evidence that athletes are using cannabis products. A study reported that “of 46,202 surveyed athletes, 1 in 4 reported the use of cannabis.”
Other research explored that “most (77%) of the subjects reported that cannabis positively affected their performance through improved focus, energy, relaxation, and recovery after a workout.” In addition, many professional athletes have been outspoken regarding their use of marijuana.
Megan Rapinoe, an Olympic gold medalist, two-time Women’s World Cup soccer champion, and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year told Benzinga that she ventured into cannabis in a search of a “healthier, more natural option for pain management, sleep aid, relaxation while flying, and general recovery.”
No, you can’t make up for your bad eating habits just by working out. Here’s what a new study says will actually work.
New research highlights a sad reality — no matter how much you work out or how healthy you eat, a longer life will only occur if you do both of these things together.
The large study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and counters the popular belief that working out eliminates some of the risks of eating an unhealthy diet or that eating healthy things counteracts staying in bed all day.
Researchers had a lot of data at their disposal, allowing them to publish a study that was thorough and that shed some light on a lot of issues. The data belonged to UK Biobank and came from over 350,000 people with a median age of 57, who filled out questionnaires about their diets and habits. At the start of the study, participants were healthy.
The study made some expected discoveries, like learning that participants who eat healthily and work out often had a lower mortality risk. Still, results highlighted that a healthy diet and frequent exercise were important independently.
“Physical activity is important. And whatever your physical activity is, diet is important,” said Dr. Melody Ding, lead author of the study.
While it seems obvious to highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and an active lifestyle when so many sources do so, our world often links these two elements, giving people some confusion. Workout culture often promotes unhealthy meals as rewards for a good workout session or eating healthy as a way to lose weight without having to exercise.
What you eat and how often you move are issues that have been linked in our culture over the past decades. They shouldn’t be. It’s important for people to be purposeful on both of these matters, indulging every once in a while in rest and on food cravings, yet maintaining a balance of healthy eating and physical activity.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter had been pushing cannabis banking reform included in a large-scale manufacturing bill also to no avail, which apparently convinced him to try a different path.
Following Wednesday’s House approval of two psychedelics research amendments, another package of bills, including banking and veterans’ access were approved, bringing the total to nine drug policy measures passed in the chamber as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this week.
One amendment from Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) that advocates and stakeholders had been monitoring closely contains the language of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, reported Marijuana Moment, which would protect financial institutions that provide services to state-legal marijuana businesses from being penalized by federal regulators.
Perlmutter discussed the measure in the Rules Committee earlier in the week, noted Marijuana Moment, arguing that it was relevant to the must-pass defense bill as it would help combat international drug trafficking, a national security risk. Although the House adopted the amendment as part of last year’s NDAA, the Senate nixed it.
Perlmutter had been pushing cannabis banking reform included in a large-scale manufacturing bill also to no avail, which apparently convinced him to try a different path.
Another Bipartisan Amendment Approved
Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Brian Mast’s (R-FL) amendment codifying the ability of Veterans Administration doctors to discuss and issue recommendations for medical cannabis to veterans also passed the House.
In a missive shared with Marijuana Moment, Blumenauer and Mast discussed the important therapeutic potential of cannabis for veterans suffering from PTSD and argued that current VA policy prohibiting doctors from issuing recommendations was forcing veterans to seek care outside of the VA.
“VA physicians should not be denied the ability to offer a recommendation that they think may meet the needs of their patients,” they wrote. “Veterans should not be forced outside the VA system to seek treatment that is legal in their state.”
Perlmutter tweeted the following about the SAFE Banking amendment:
Several hours after news that the New York Police Department (NYPD) will not randomly test police officers or job applicants for cannabis hit the headlines, the information was taken back.
What Happened
It was first reported on Wednesday that the NYPD would stop drug testing officers for marijuana, upon receiving the order from the New York City Law Department (NYCLF). But several hours later, the police released a new statement saying it will continue its previous drug testing policy pending further discussion with city officials, reported Times Union.
An internal memo from the department’s deputy commissioner for legal affairs obtained by the outlet noted that the department plans to align its policy with state Labor Law that forbids unfavorable actions against employees based on recreational cannabis use. The document, however, noted that the department will continue to test for cannabis “if there is reasonable suspicion that the member is impaired by marijuana on the job.”
“The rationale behind this determination is that there is no test for marijuana that conclusively determines current intoxication, making it impossible to determine by drug test alone whether an employee has tested positive for marijuana because of improper use on the job or use during statutorily protected off-hours use,” the memo states.
Wait, We Take It Back!
Several hours after the policy changes were announced, NYPD police chief Keechant Sewell released a memo to all commanders stating, “existing department policies that prohibit the use of marijuana remain in effect. Members of the service are not permitted to use cannabis on or off duty and will continue to be subject to random, scheduled, and for-cause drug screening.”
Meanwhile, the N.Y. Fire Department said it will stop randomly testing its employees and job applicants for cannabis use, maintaining its right to test when suspecting marijuana-caused impairment.
It is still unclear why the first memo was released, and what will happen with the policy when the discussions between the department and city officials conclude.
One crucial and imperative way the Biden administration can gain respect on the issue is to simply respond quickly and appropriately to several calls to action by Democrats.
It is no secret that there are a lot of major political issues at play in the US this year. Just look at a midterm election debate and you will notice that the current list of major political issues has doubled since the start of this year.
Marijuana legalization is one of these issues. In fact, the silent stance taken by the Biden administration on marijuana policy has caused many frustrations to grow, and now this building frustration is boiling over. People want accountability.
As we recentlyreported, a group of powerful democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, sent President Biden a letter urging him to use his power to decriminalize marijuana and clear the names of those convicted of non-violent marijuana crimes. This letter essentially calls out the Biden administration’s lack of action on promised marijuana policy, which begs the question: What must Biden do to reassure the public when it comes to marijuana policy?
The letter, for the most part, spends several pages answering this question. The two things Biden can do, according to these senators, is decriminalize marijuana (like he promised) and also quit it with the silent treatment. After all, the senators voiced frustrations not only in the lack of policy, but also the silence or slow speed of responses from the administration.
Near the start of the letter, the senators mention their long wait for a response from the DOJ about rescheduling marijuana. “The half-page response, which took over six months, was extraordinarily disappointing,” the lettersaid. Later on in the letter, the group of senators also mentions a previous letter they sent on November 9, 2021, where they “called on President Biden to use his authority ‘to pardon all individuals convicted of nonviolent cannabis offenses, whether formerly or currently incarcerated.’ To date, we have not received a response to this letter.” Therefore, one crucial and imperative way the Biden administration can gain respect on the issue is to simply respond quickly and appropriately to these calls to action.
In addition to breaking the silence and no longer giving the runaround, the letter makes it clear that it is time Biden owns up to the campaign promises he made about marijuana. As a memory refresher, Biden did not campaign on marijuana legalization, but he did officially campaign to decriminalize the substance. For example, he was even recorded on the presidential campaign trailsaying that “nobody should be in jail for smoking marijuana.”
This was not the only time he discussed marijuana leading up to the 2020 election. He even campaigned with official promises to decriminalize marijuana. In one official campaign ad, for example, hesaid, “As president, I’ll work to reform the criminal justice system, improve community policing, decriminalize marijuana, and automatically expunge all prior marijuana convictions.” While this stance is fairly conservative compared to many of his democratic colleagues, these promises have not been met. According to theWashington Post, “his administration has stayed mum on its marijuana policy and efforts to pardon nonviolent offenders.” This “mum” policy is no longer being tolerated by some of his top democratic colleagues.
Throughout the letter, it is made clear that it is time for the Biden administration to take some form of action when it comes to marijuana policy. At a time when his approval ratings are at very low levels, marijuana reform could be a much needed win. After all, as the letter mentions, “There is widespread public support for cannabis legalization, with around two thirds of the public supporting the legalization of cannabis.”
Only time will tell how the current administration will handle the letter and similar calls to action, but one thing has been spelled out — action, in some form, is essential.
Hemp and cannabis are cousins from the same plant family: cannabis sativa. Each of them are grown for various purposes though they have different features and characteristics.
Cannabidiol (CBD) products are everywhere these days. From gel capsules to oils, tinctures, creams, and even CBD products for your pet, there’s a CBD product for almost any ailment you can think of. Anxiety, insomnia, skin care, and so much more. It isn’t surprising considering that the CBD market is responsible for $12.8 billion in sales last year, though it’s expected to grow more from this year to 2028.
But when shopping around for CBD products, it is in the best interest of consumers to educate ourselves about the various types of CBD out there. The two sources of CBD are the hemp plant and the cannabis plant.
Hemp and cannabis are cousins from the same plant family: cannabis sativa. Each of them are grown for various purposes though they have different features and characteristics.
Hemp
Hemp is an industrial crop that has extremely low levels of THC, usually under 0.3%. However, it’s a rich source of nutrients and CBD. Hemp is widely cultivated for commercial and industrial purposes; the entire hemp plant including leaves, stalks, buds, and seeds can be made into several different useful products.
Because hemp is a rich source of natural CBD, most of the CBD products made around the world are made from hemp. It also makes it easier to produce large quantities of hemp-derived CBD because the hemp plant has been removed from the Controlled Substances Act back in 2018 thanks to the legalization of the Farm Bill. The act allows hemp to be cultivated legally then produced into CBD products for the public to consume.
Cannabis
Cannabis and marijuana are one and the same. This species of the cannabis sativa plant contains high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is psychoactive and gets you high. It also contains around 500 various compounds including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that contribute to cannabis strains’ aromas, effects, and health benefits.
Cannabis can contain anywhere from 5 up to 30% THC though it has very low CBD levels. But thanks to recent engineering and breeding, cannabis strains can be made to produce much higher levels of CBD these days. There are also craft cannabis strains that have a high CBD content, and they can produce quality CBD products such as oils, tinctures, and edibles. In addition, for consumers who prefer to consume through smoking, you can consume CBD by smoking the cannabis plant in flower form because you can’t smoke hemp.
While dozens of states have legalized cannabis for medical and/or recreational use, cannabis is still illegal in the eyes of the federal government.
When you compare the molecular structure of CBD made from hemp to that of cannabis, they are exactly the same.
However, there are a few differences that consumers should take note of:
Legality: Hemp-made products, CBD included, is legal all throughout the United States. One can transport hemp-derived CBD across state borders while companies can cultivate and manufacture CBD products without having to worry about any legal implications.
But with CBD oil made from marijuana, it’s up to each state to define whether or not it’s illegal. In the eyes of the federal government, though, CBD oil made from marijuana is still a marijuana product and if you are caught traveling with it or crossing state lines, there may be some serious legal implications.
THC content and effect: Since CBD oil and products made from the hemp plant has extremely low traces of THC, consumers can expect feeling little to no high at all. In fact, you would have to consume a ridiculously high amount of CBD oil with trace amounts of THC to get high. It would just make no sense at all because if psychoactive effects are the priority, then you should be consuming THC products and not CBD.
Nutrient profile: Hemp doesn’t boast of a cannabinoid profile as rich as cannabis. Since cannabinoids also have a myriad of numerous health benefits, you will only be able to enjoy it if you consume cannabis-derived CBD. But CBD from hemp is rich in vitamins and fatty acids, which make it suitable for treating disorders related to the skin and inflammation, as well as for overall health and well-being.
Many medicinal patients who use CBD to treat conditions benefit from consuming cannabis-derived CBD. Its therapeutic benefits are simply more powerful thanks to the entourage effect working on all the cannabinoids and terpenes present.
Where to find them: CBD oils and other CBD products made from marijuana can only legally be purchased in licensed dispensaries in states that have legalized cannabis. On the other hand, you can easily buy hemp-derived CBD almost anywhere.
Having said that, patients should research and discuss with their doctors about the type of CBD oil that’s best for you. Even if you want to start supplementing with CBD for general health, here are certain things you should look out for:
Certificate of Analysis (COA): The COA provides you with insight on the other ingredients or compounds used in the plant. Legitimate COA’s should tell you about the cannabinoid analysis, heavy metals, if any; and pesticide analysis. Stay away from products that only tell you the cannabinoids present because they may not be that transparent with you.
Some COA’s also include detailed information on terpenes, residual solvents, and mycotoxins.
Organic and non-GMO CBD: Ideally, you want to be consuming organic and non-GMO cannabis and CBD products. This will give you peace of mind that you’re taking in clean ingredients that are free from pesticides and other chemicals that can be detrimental to your health. Many hemp and cannabis plants are genetically modified but several CBD brands out there claim to be non-GMO, yet they don’t have the proper verification. Always research the brand to find out more information on their hemp plants.
Ingredients: Depending on the type of CBD oil or product you are consuming, some manufacturers may have added other ingredients to make it more palatable. CBD oils are usually mixed with a carrier oil such as MCT oil, coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, or almond oil. With all these options, you can easily choose which one is best for your needs.
It’s up to consumers to know about the various CBD product offerings on the market. Not all products are created equally, so you want to be sure you’re consuming only high-quality CBD for your health and safety.
In a recent House Rules Committee assembly, Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) supported alternative treatment research for military members in the 2023 defense bill.
Almost 1,200 filed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including a dozen related to marijuana and psychedelics, have been presented to the committee.
Several of the major drug policy reforms have been cleared for votes on the House floor and are now set to be considered by the full chamber.
The measure introduced by Gaetz is based on an existing provision from Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) for research on marijuana as an alternative to opioids for military members with certain health conditions. This bill was already attached to the must-pass bill in the House Armed Services Committee, reported Marijuana Moment. Gaetz’s proposal is to expand the research to include psilocybin and MDMA.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) recently filed a nearly identical yet separate amendment to the NDAA as well, requiring the DOD to do research into psilocybin, MDMA and marijuana as alternatives to opioids for service members with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries or severe pain.
As Marijuana Moment reported, the Democratic-led measure was made in order to proceed, while its GOP counterpart was not.
On the other hand, the amendment Crenshaw presented would provide the secretary of defense the possibility of approving grants for research into the therapeutic power of a list of psychedelics (including MDMA, psilocybin, ibogaine & 5–MeO–DMT) for active duty service members suffering PTSD.
Crenshaw’s measure was first introduced in 2021 when the House Rules Committee didn’t order it for NDAA floor consideration. The text, which has not been modified seeks not to decriminalize psychedelics or give service members free hand to experiment with them, but to begin studying a new, potentially life-improving therapeutic option.
Besides the psychedelics amendments, other proposals have been approved and are set for full chamber consideration as well: VA home loan benefits for veterans using medical cannabis, allowing VA doctors to fill out recommendations for medical marijuana, protecting banks that work with state-legal cannabis businesses, amongst others.
The fiscal year 2023 bill seems to hold interest in including cannabis & psychedelics policy in defense as have policy amendments proposed by Perlmutter (D-CO), Mace (R-SC), Clark (D-MA), Tlaib (D-MI), and Blumenauer (D-OR).
Young entrepreneurs in Thailand have taken advantage of the country’s new approach to cannabis, even if it remains illegal to consume the drug recreationally.
Thailand’s recent decision to decriminalize marijuana has inspired a lot of young people who want to make their mark on the new and exciting industry.
Aljazeera spoke with some of the country’s residents, who are seeing a cannabis product boom, from pre-rolled joints to Sriracha bottles with a weedy twist.
“My age group ‘Gen Z’ don’t really drink alcohol but we do smoke weed,” said Mada, a 21-year-old woman who works at a weed dispensary in eastern Thailand. Her outlook on cannabis stands in contrast to that of the Thai government, which claims to have legalized the plant to make it easier for growers and consumers to access cannabis for medicinal and culinary purposes.
Still, consumers and those invested in weed are taking advantage of this newly adopted lax attitude, setting up businesses of their own through the comfort of their smartphones.
“Since the law changed you see across Instagram stories about how many of my age group now have a new chance to make a living,” said Mada. As is the case with most businesses, it becomes way easier to get a public with the help of social media. In the case of cannabis, these hashtags and offers are disguised (#saikiew, which means “green way of life”), yet they still result in profitable business ventures.
While the laws are allowing people interested in making money with cannabis to operate with relative freedom, experts expect this will change soon. The Thai government is under pressure to control cannabis’ growth and to educate the public on the purpose of the drug under Thai laws. They’re also concerned on the effect of the plant on children and whether or not this new environment makes it more likely for them to have access to the drug.
Still, it may be too late to control cannabis. The switch is flipped. “It is interesting to see how society changes with the thought of the ‘cha-ching’ (money),” said Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka, a longtime cannabis advocate. “Suddenly a ‘druggie’ turns into a business person and a bedroom grower turns into a master grower.”
Former President Bill Clinton says CBD show positive results as an alternative to opioids. This came from the results of a clinical trial on the efficiency and safety of CBD as a treatment for post-operative pain and are “very encouraging.” Clinton is following the research via the Clinton Foundation.
“The Clinton Foundation has worked for years to reduce opioid addiction and deaths,” Clinton said. “To succeed, we need non-addictive alternatives to pain management. The results of the trial conducted by NYU Langone, with TRP’s CBD ingredient, are very encouraging and I’m eager to see the results of the next round.”
Photo by Center for American Progress Action Fund/Flickr
A botanical-derivative producer, TR Processing LLC, confirmed Tuesday it has been a CBD supplier for NYU Langone Health and Baptist Health/Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute’s Phase 1/2 clinical trial.
Clinical Trial Highlights
The clinical trial focused on examining CBD safety and its effect on postoperative pain, patient satisfaction and opioid consumption, post arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery.
The trial had 99 participants between the ages of 18 and 75 divided into two groups – one receiving “buccally absorbed CBD,” and the other control group placebo treatment. A day after surgery, patients receiving CBD showed on average 23% less pain, compared to the placebo group, and a 22% to 25% greater level of satisfaction with pain control. There were no important side effects disclosed.
“We are committed to supporting the study and responsible commercialization of isolated cannabinoids, including CBD,” said Chris Kanaley, chief strategy officer at TRP. “Tackling opioid abuse and addiction through the development of safer pain management alternatives is the first of many potential uses of our unique processing platform, and we are enthusiastic about the future. Our work has tremendous potential to become precision medicine at its best.”
Kevin Kaplan, M.D., FAAOS, orthopedic surgeon and head team physician for the Jacksonville Jaguars, led the trial for Baptist Health/Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute and helped guide the research. Kaplan said he was pleased about their collaboration with TRP.
“We performed an exhaustive search looking for a manufacturer that could provide consistent and quality raw ingredients while acknowledging the strict standard under which the FDA and pharmaceutical industry operate,” Kaplan said. “We found that in TRP and thank them for their support.”
Photo by Anna Efetova/Getty Images
Clinton & Marijuana
Some 30 years ago, then-Arkansas Governor Clinton publicly admitted he had tried weed in his 20s, while he was at the University of Oxford.
“I’ve never broken a state law,” he said at a candidates’ forum, as reported by Time. “But when I was in England I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t inhale it, and never tried it again.”
Furthermore, in 2000, just before leaving the office, he told Rolling Stone that small amounts of cannabis should be decriminalized, just like they are in some places.
What is the stance of the current U.S. Presidential administration? There are new signals in this direction, especially now when so many states have already legalized cannabis either for medical or recreational purposes or both, and each year more and more Americans seem to be backing legalization. Furthermore, the country is desperate in finding ways to deal with a major overdose crisis.
Opioid Crisis Is Real
As per the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just last year more than 100,000 Americans died of a drug overdose, and about 1 million lost their lives to overdose over the last 20 years. The alarming crisis also impacts the U.S. economy, as per some estimates about $1 trillion per year.
Last October, the Biden administration signaled it is considering embracing once taboo strategies to stem the opioid crisis. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra revealed the Biden administration’s strategy to deal with the epidemic, which could include allowing supervised consumption sites.
This June the administration confirmed it will consider safe consumption sites and cannabis decriminalization to address the public health emergency.
The Biden administration will prioritize “harm reduction” as a response to drug abuse while examining information on marijuana legalization and safe injection sites, White House drug czar, Dr. Rahul Gupta said last month.
“For the first time in history, the federal government is embracing the specific policies of harm reduction,” Gupta told the Financial Times.
As for marijuana legalization, Gupta noted that the White House position should be based on science by analyzing the experiences of the 19 states in the US that have already legalized adult use.
“We’re learning from those states. We’re monitoring the data and trying to see where things go,” Gupta said. “But one thing is very clear, and the president has been clear about that. The policies that we’ve had around marijuana have not been working.”
Bill Clinton says CBD shows results as an alternative to opioids is important in the addiction crisis left by opioids.
Will the world’s global superpower ever legalize marijuana? It seems unlikely not, even though it’s extremely ironic that some of the oldest evidence of weed consumption has been found in China.
China, a global superpower in the world, a country responsible for numerous inventions that have helped save humankind, is now living in a dystopian nightmare that has eerily too many similarities with George Orwell’s famous book, 1984.
In fact, internet users in China aren’t even allowed to type “1984” in social media, and copies of Orwell’s dystopian novels are banned. The novel is set under a fictional regime of constant state surveillance and censorship. The citizens in the book are carefully monitored by “Big Brother” and are made to practice “double think” and only talk in a state-controlled language known as “newspeak.” Talk about double standards.
An article by Brookings discusses how visualization and police informatization is driving Chinese surveillance systems. The communist government has numerous methods of collating massive volumes of data on its over 1.4 billion citizens: from surveillance cameras in the streets to medical history, e-commerce, travel, WeChat, and more, the repressive nature of its surveillance tactics feel like a huge step backward.
On top of that, they place a strict focus on “focus personnel”, who are citizens that are deemed by the government to undermine social stability, or people petitioning the government.
Naturally, the communists have a strict stance against drugs – and all kinds of it. According to the Chinese government, all kinds of drugs pose a serious hazard which is why they take drug control seriously. While Chinese society has, just like many other countries, also suffered from the ills caused by deadly street drugs such as methamphetamine – as well as heroin and fentanyl.
But will the world’s global superpower ever legalize marijuana? It seems unlikely not, even though it’s extremely ironic that some of the oldest evidence of marijuana consumption has been found in China. Researchers discovered that marijuana was burned for its intoxicating plumes around 2,500 years ago, in a plateau in Central Asia. They also found more evidence of Sogdian culture, an ancient people from western China as well as Tajikistan who followed Zoroastrianism, a religion that appreciated the benefits of cannabis according to their sacred texts.
In addition, both cannabis and hemp were used in China’s early history, part of making traditional Chinese medicine, fibers, textile, and more.
No matter which way you put it, marijuana is an entheogen, plant-based chemicals that induce an unusual state of consciousness. These types of plants have been used since ancient times for spiritual and religious purposes, as many cultures believed that these hallucinations and experiences allowed them to dialogue with the gods among others.
For example, peyote was consumed in Mesoamerica for some 2,000 years is still widely used by the Huichol tribes of Mexico. “For the Huichol, peyote serves as the central sacrament of their rituals,” explains anthropologist Paul Liffman, who has been studying the tribe for many years. “It is taken to illuminate the user, to lighten them from inside,” he adds.
Meanwhile, magic mushrooms and ayahuasca have long been considered “plant teachers” in Latin American nations. Indigenous tribes especially those that reside in the Upper Amazon have had a long history of using ayahuasca which they consider a sacred brew, used for rituals (known as Shipibo) and healing purposes.
Today, cannabis is the most widely accessible and popularly used entheogen. While it was also used for spiritual and religious reasons in the past, people still do so in current times. In a study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, a survey was sent out online through private messaging and asked 319 participants from various online communities about their experiences with psychedelics and cannabis as well as association to religious traditions, spiritual practices, and motivations for cannabis and psychedelic use.
The results found that 69% of participants used psychedelics and cannabis for spiritual purposes, and 25% of them had a spiritual motivation for using the drug.
Photo by Marti157900/Getty Images
Marijuana Will Cause Chinese People To “Wake Up” – And That’s Why It Will Never Be Legalized
Human rights is a dire problem in China: people simply do not have the freedom of expression, or access to other basic human rights. They are harassed and tortured by the government if they even speak up. Whereas in North America, lobbies for legalizing marijuana on the street are normal, parents speak up if they can’t get access this life-saving medicine for their sick children, and we talk about how marijuana makes us feel – on the internet, all the time. The fact that we can even write and publish these articles – it would be a far cry for it to happen in China, ever.
The citizens are badly in need of psychiatric and psychological help after having to be under all that mental and physical repression in their own home. The government even goes as far as using mental illness to discredit any dissidents, and in some cases will force their own people to be confined at psychiatric hospitals if they speak badly about the regime.
For as long as people don’t have freedom of speech and expression in China, they will never be able to experience the therapeutic benefits of marijuana, which is extremely disheartening. China will constantly be in the shadows unless a progressive government takes over.
