Thailand Decriminalizes Marijuana, But Recreational Use Still Illegal

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June 10, 2022

Thailand Decriminalizes Marijuana, But Recreational Use Still Illegal

With recreational use of cannabis still being prohibited in the country, penalties for those who use the plant to get high will remain.

Thailand became the first South-East Asian country to decriminalize marijuana on Thursday, reported CNN Travel.

Now that cannabis is removed from the banned Category 5 narcotics list, Thais can legally grow cannabis plants at home and sell the crop, a move that the government hopes will boost agriculture and tourism.

In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use. However, with recreational use of cannabis still being prohibited in the country, penalties for those who use the plant to get high will remain, said Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Those caught smoking in public will still face up to three months in jail and an $800 fine. However, according to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), cannabis possession will not result in arrest as of Friday.

Recreational Use Is Still ‘A No’

Charnvirakul, who is also a deputy prime minister, warned recently that recreational use is still “a no.”

“We still have regulations under the law that control the consumption, smoking, or use of cannabis products in non-productive ways,” he said. “There has never once been a moment that we would think about advocating people to use cannabis in terms of recreation — or use it in a way that it could irritate others.”

Interestingly, Charnvirakul, recently announced that his ministry plans to give away a million marijuana plants.

Now that cannabis decriminalization is enacted, one thousand cannabis plants will be distributed for free to people in Buri Ram starting on Friday, reported the Bangkok Post. The giveaway will last until Sunday, Charnvirakul added.

While Health Ministry deputy permanent secretary Dr. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn recently said even smoke and odor can be a reason for officials to order people to stop smoking cannabis, under decriminalization, using parts of the plant to treat an illness is allowed. Moreover, cafes and restaurants are also free to serve cannabis-infused food and drinks containing less than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

“The ministry has submitted a letter to the Office of the Consumer Protection Board [OCPB] to issue laws preventing people from using cannabis and hemp for recreational activities,” Keeratihattayakorn said, reported Nation Thailand.

How To Apply For Cannabis Cultivation Permits

So far, over 100,000 budding cannabis growers have registered via the ‘Plook Ganja’ website and mobile application reported Thaiger.

To get permission to grow cannabis or hemp at home, cultivators are obliged to notify the country’s FDA about their intentions. They can apply in two ways, either via the ‘Plook Ganja’ (‘Grow Cannabis’) mobile application – for IOS and Android users – or through the ‘Plook Ganja’ website.

Earlier this week, the Thai FDA released guidelines for the cultivation, import and possession of marijuana.

In addition, over 3,000 of those convicted of cannabis-related drug offenses will be released from prisons nationwide. The Office of the Judiciary recently said that cannabis-related trials and detention that are in motion will be canceled now that plant is decriminalized.

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

Eating This Meal Twice A Week Might Increase Your Odds Of Skin Cancer

Maria Loreto

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June 9, 2022

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Eating This Meal Twice A Week Might Increase Your Odds Of Skin Cancer

A new study found links between skin cancer and a food traditionally thought of as healthy.

While many people consider fish to be a healthy meal option, a new study shows that it can actually increase the odds of skin cancer.

The study, published in the journal Cancer Causes & Control, examined data on nearly 500,000 adults with an average age of 62. Researchers highlighted details of participants’ fish consumption habits, indicating how they ate it and how often, and compared them with their frequency of melanoma cases over a period of 15 years.

A breakdown of results showed a link between fish intake and melanoma. People who consumed the most fish had 22% more cases of malignant melanoma than those who didn’t consume fish at all.

“Our findings have identified an association that requires further investigation,” said Eunyoung Cho, the study’s author. “We speculate that our findings could possibly be attributed to contaminants in fish, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, arsenic, and mercury.”

Previous studies have found links between fish consumption and cancer, with researchers theorizing that fish exposes people to harmful elements. Still, researchers don’t fully understand the link and say that the study isn’t sufficient for choosing to quit fish.

The New York Times explains that while there are connections between different types of food and cancers, these tend to fade when the results are looked at as a whole. “Don’t get overwhelmed by this incomplete data that is yet to be proven,” said Dr. Sancy Leachman, director of the Melanoma Research Program at Oregon Health & Science University. “Hold on to the tried and true things: Eat well, sleep well, exercise well, all in the moderation. That gives you the most resilience you can possibly have against any kind of disease, including cancer.”

When it comes to melanoma, it’s very important to protect the skin from sun exposure and UV rays, having the best benefits if started from a young age. Experts recommend keeping an eye on new marks and spots.

How Much Do Weed Jobs Pay Right Now?

Cannabusiness

Terry Hacienda

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June 9, 2022

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The cannabis industry is still relatively young, so there are many opportunities for employment. Here are some examples.

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

With the cannabis industry booming and expanding, there are several roles to fill in various companies to ensure the smooth running of the business. For many who are looking to join a company and fill certain roles, the first question in mind is the salary expectations of the roles within a cannabis firm.

So, here’s our review of the employee structure in a cannabis retail form and how compensations should be rolled out.

marijuana dispensary — Photo by RODNAE Productions via Pexels

Budtenders

Applicable titles: Retail associate, patient care advocate, dispensary associate, brand ambassador, retail specialist, dispensary agent.
Functions: Budtenders are one of the top contributors to the growth of the cannabis business. They assist individuals to identify the best ways to use marijuana. While Budtendering is not a simple job, it can be quite rewarding and fulfilling. Budtenders usually have the skill and experience around customer service and interacting with customers. Budtenders get to answer a lot of questions and must also be willing and ready to learn to add to/her wealth of experience.
Salary: Budtenders usually earn a few dollars just above the minimum wage. This is especially true if the firm is located in a local area. The hourly wage is between the local minimum wage plus $3 to $8.

Assistant Manager

Applicable titles: Retail supervisor, assistant store manager, assistant general manager, and assistant dispensary manager.

Functions: After the budtender comes to the assistant manager who is usually employed from within the firm. A person who fills this role often starts as a budtender who has proven his/her worthwhile showing strong leadership qualities. Responsibilities include:
- Training new employees
- Implementing processes and SOPs
- Handling customer complaints
- Keeping track of inventory
- Overseeing employee relations
- Communicating with customers when in need
Salary: Between $22-$30 per hour or $50,000-$60,000 annually.
The premium for assistant managers: If salaried, bonuses are often included in the contract. At an hourly rate, the assistant manager is not rewarded with bonuses or benefits.

RELATED: 9 Hot Cannabis Jobs In 2022

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

General Manager

Applicable titles: Store manager, retail general manager, or ‘pharmacists’

Function : The general manager is in charge of operating the store, ensuring all targets are met. They are influential in the implementation of the firm’s operating procedures and policies to effectively achieve set goals. Looking at open cannabis industry jobs, the general manager is charged with various goals which include:

- Establish a top-performing dispensary with increased sales and customers
- Work with a small footprint to make the best use of a small space
- Attend to either recreation or medical customer base
- Attend to more white-collar or blue-collar customer base
- Be asked to communicate with the average number of customers each day
- Attend to every number of tickets each day
- Monitor the firm’s improvement against past achievements
- Be able to retain staff
Salary: Between $55,000-$100,000. The range of salary for a general manager varies greatly depending on the storage volume and the size of the firm.
Rewards for General Manager: 10% target bonus: the position of the general manager is highly poached, making it have a rate of turnover Cannabis firms are now beginning to offer rewards at this position to hold onto an efficient general manager. Eligibility for the bonus depends on if the general manager reaches the target yearly or quarterly.

Here’s Why You Have To Trust Your Dispensary — Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Regional Manager

Applicable titles: Retail district manager, district manager, or retail area manager.

Functions: The regional manager is a retail leader that manages and controls around 5 stores. They are charged with people management and staff retention including training, mentoring, and supervising general managers.Regional managers in the cannabis industry motivate and lead their region to reach set goals and targets for that region. Cannabis firms need a program work with solid experience in leadership roles and previous experience in cannabis retail sales. For a lot of new cannabis companies experience is highly valued.However, several cannabis firms are still open to individuals without previous cannabis experience. Although such individuals who have been employed have experience from working in stores such as Ulta Beauty, Starbucks, or Victoria’s Secret. This is because individuals from mainstream industries usually have vast business insight and are good with numbers. In several cases, a regional manager is hired from within the firm even when lacking previous multi-store experience.
Basic salary: Between $110,000-$150,000
Rewards for regional managers: 20% target bonus which could be earned yearly or quarterly. In some cases, regional managers earn equities as bonuses

Vice President of Retail

Applicable titles: Senior vice president (SVP) of retail, Vice president (VP) of retail, national head of retail, SVP or VP or SVP of retail operations.

Functions: The vice president of retail set up the entire strategy and plan for regional stores. The position is usually in charge of more than 100 stores for an operator overseeing various states. Or it could be in charge of more than 10 stores for a state. They design promotional strategies and carry out retail marketing, e-commerce, merchandising, and store-based SOPs.Individuals with adequate experience in innovating an unregulated operation to apply to the present, regulated cannabis sector suits well for the position. The individuals should be great at turning around poor-performing stores. Such individuals must also have experience with rapidly growing firms or CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods).The Vice President of retail must be very comfortable with holding board meetings and communicating with executives. They must be skilled at designing presentations and highlighting numbers, goals, and forecasts, to effectively communicate the company’s information.

Basic salary: Between $180,000-$250,000. Top-performing VPs of retail at leading companies in the industry make about $350,000.
Bonuses: 30% target bonus

Conclusion

As you can see, being an employee in the cannabis industry is definitely not a bad idea. You could monetize your love for cannabis by applying to one of these roles. You get to do what you love and get paid for it. Besides, the cannabis industry is still relatively young so many opportunities abound being an employee in the industry.

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

Is It Good North Carolina House Says Yes To Some Weed

Benzinga Staff Writer

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June 9, 2022

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Is It Good North Carolina House Says Yes To Some Weed

The bill approved on Wednesday will now move to Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk, where he can decide to sign it, veto it, or let it become law with no action.

By Nina Zdinjak

The North Carolina House passed Senate Bill 448, legalizing FDA-approved THC medications in a 92-9 vote, reported The Carolina Journal.

The move came on the heels of the Senate’s approval of a medical marijuana bill known as N.C. Compassionate Care Act, which would also legalize non-FDA-approved medical cannabis.

While it was expected that N.C. Compassionate Care Act would receive opposition and possibly be stalled in the House, with the approval of Senate Bill 448, its chances of passing the House now look even slimmer.

The bill approved on Wednesday will now move to Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk, where he can decide to sign it, veto it, or let it become law with no action.

Senate Bill 448 discloses changes to Schedule VI of the Controlled Substances Act that would enable prescription drugs containing cannabis and THC to be sold and consumed in North Carolina if the FDA approves the drug.

During Wednesday’s House debate, Rep. Larry Pitman (R) tried to add an amendment to the Controlled Substances Act that no matter the actions by the FDA or federal government, cannabis would remain illegal in the state. Fortunately for medical marijuana patients, the amendment was ruled out of order.

“The first sentence in the title of this is an act to in the absence of the objection from the commission for mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services, this would be automatic,” McElraft said. “They still have a right to do exactly what they were doing before in that commission. They can still object if they have an FDA-cleared drug that they don’t want to come to North Carolina. I have to remind you these are FDA-cleared drugs. This is not marijuana legalization.”

Rep. Carla Cunningham (D) was also among lawmakers who urged a vote against the amendment saying some children and their families have been forced to go to Colorado for years to obtain FDA-approved treatment for uncontrollable seizures.

Sen. Jim Burgin (R), one of the original co-sponsors of S.B. 448 in the Senate, was in Denver at the time of the bill’s passage. “We can get FDA-approved drugs out to the public sooner with this bill,” Burgin told Carolina Journal in a phone interview.

Earlier this month, Kansas approved similar legislation with Governor Laura Kelly (D) signing a measure that would allow Kansans to obtain FDA-approved prescription drugs derived from cannabis-related products.

Is All Weed Basically The Same? Here’s What Scientists Recently Found

Terry Hacienda

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June 9, 2022

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Is All Weed Basically The Same? Here’s What Scientists Recently Found

In a recent study, researchers shared the findings of the biggest current analysis about the chemical composition in cannabis products.

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

When consumers shop around for cannabis flower, there are thousands of strain names to choose from. These cultivars are said to be unique in their chemical and genetic makeup, with a special terpene and flavonoid content as well as THC or CBD. That should make things easier, right?

Then again, when we’re out buying marijuana products, we also encounter labels such as sativa (energizing, uplifting), indica (relaxing, sedating), or hybrid (a combination of both). It should be simple enough. But the truth is that we can no longer rely on these names.

Cannabis Strains Are Now Irrelevant

In a recent study published in the journal PLOS One, researchers shared the findings of the biggest current analysis about the chemical composition in cannabis products. They analyzed around 90,000 cannabis samples taken from six states, checked their terpene content, cannabinoid makeup, and other chemical analysis from Leafly and other sites. They found that most of the cannabinoids available in recreational cannabis is nothing more than just THC.

The authors stated that labels “do not consistently align with the observed chemical diversity”. In fact, the study’s authors recommend that cannabis products have a proper labeling system just like what we have for the nutrition facts label with food.

“Our findings suggest that the prevailing labeling system is not an effective or safe way to provide information about these products,” says Brian Keegan, co-author of the study. “This is a real challenge for an industry that is trying to professionalize itself,” says the assistant professor of Information Science at CU Boulder, reports the CU Boulder Today.

This is revealing, given the countless names that marijuana growers and marketers have had to come up with over the past few years especially with the explosion of strains that has made the mainstream market. Memorable names are a must: think about Maui Wowie, Stinky Pinky, Han Solo Burger, Alaskan Thunder Fuck are just some of the few famous strain names.

After all, a strain name referring to one that you had an enjoyable experience with while high will stick around. It’s what you will ask your budtender for next time, and it’s a strain you’ll tell your friends about. Clever names are memorable and will pique more interest.

However, as this and other studies show, a name is pretty much all you get. Cannabis genetics change depending on who breeds it and how, so it can be rare to find 100% of the exact same kind of toke experience, genetics, terpenes, chemical makeup, and other factors if you buy your weed of the same strain elsewhere.

cannabis pipe rolling papers — Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

The study also says that identifying strains by sativa, indica, and hybrid has nothing to do with the cannabis’s chemical reality. However, they did say that there were three types of terpene combinations that were prominent in specific strains: cannabis strains high in limonene and caryophyllene, pinene and myrcene, and then those with rich myrcene and terpinolene content. These have nothing to do with their current classifications, as the researchers said, they “do not neatly correspond to the indica, sativa and hybrid labeling scheme.”

“In other words, it is likely that a sample with the label indica will have an indistinguishable terpene composition as samples labelled sativa or hybrid,” they say.

Currently, cannabis product marketers have to disclose how much THC and CBD are in a product but there is no regulation that requires them to share what other compounds are in the plant, such as what terpenes or flavonoids there are. On top of that, they can call the strain or product whatever they want. “A farmer can’t just pick up an apple and decide to call it a Golden Delicious. A beer manufacturer can’t just arbitrarily label their product a Double IPA. There are standards. But that is not the case for the cannabis industry,” explains Nick Jikomes, co-author of the study, who is also a director of science and innovation for Leafly.

Genetic Differences, Lab Tests More Important

There have been other studies that share the same results. An older study from 2015, also published in PLoS One, was conducted by researchers from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. They wanted to understand the genetic differences in cannabis so they analyzed around 14,031 single-point factors in DNA of 81 cannabis samples as well as 43 hemp samples.

They also took a look into the variations among marijuana species, and found that there were only “moderate” differences between indica and sativa, but it wasn’t as significant as we think they are.

Then another study from 2021 involved researchers analyzing thousands of marijuana samples that represented around 396 strain names in a lab. What was shocking was that these samples represented to be nothing more than 3 chemical varieties of pot, leaving the scientists to conclude that strain names don’t mean anything at all. “The very limited variability in chemical profiles shows that most of these chemovars, while named differently, are almost the same or at least very similar,” they wrote.

The researchers also discussed the absence of standardization in the cannabis industry especially for strain names, adding that they were “poorly or not at all defined.” For us consumers, this leaves us feeling confused, with the lack of information on packaging, consistency, chemical phenotype, genotype, and more.

For these reasons, recreational and medical users are better off buying cannabis products that have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). The COA is a document provided by a third-party laboratory that shows you exactly what’s in your cannabis, and this is the closest thing we can get to a “nutrition facts panel” for cannabis as of the moment. It acts as a quality check of sorts, and depending on the test results or laboratory, can provide consumers with a range of information including microbiological testing, cannabinoid concentrates, terpene profile, residual solvents, and heavy metals if any.

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

Past Cannabis Use Could Affect White House Internship Eligibility

Benzinga Staff Writer

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June 9, 2022

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Past Cannabis Use Could Affect White House Internship Eligibility

“Prior drug use including marijuana, regardless of whether the marijuana use was permitted under state law,” could affect an applicant’s eligibility, according to the White House.

By Joana Scopel

The Biden administration clarified that people applying as White House interns will be required to fill out a standard form to disclose prior drug use including marijuana, reported Marijuana Moment.

Early in his tenure, the Biden White House was roundly criticized over reports that staffers were being fired, asked to resign or penalized for having admitted to cannabis use as part of a background check.

illegal marijuana — Photo by ChrisSteer/Getty Images

According to a FAQ of the White House Internship Program, “prior drug use including marijuana, regardless of whether the marijuana use was permitted under state law,” could affect an applicant’s eligibility.

Is Cannabis Changing The Workplace?

As many Americans begin their return to office life, how cannabis fits into the equation is coming into play. The same can be said for companies working in a digital workplace.

In September 2021, Amazon announced that it was lobbying Congress in favor of legalizing cannabis at the federal level in part to promote equitable hiring practices.

In a blog post, Beth Galetti, Amazon’s senior vice president of human resources, said that the company had “reinstated the employment eligibility for former employees and applicants who were previously terminated or deferred during random or pre-employment marijuana screenings.”

In January 2022, Cecile V. Munoz, president of U.S. Executive Search and Consulting told Benzinga that it is never wise to keep workplace policies static.

In Colorado, for example, employers would be prohibited from denying employment or firing workers because of their off-the-clock cannabis use and on-the-job medical marijuana consumption under a measure introduced in early February.

Positive Drug Tests Hit In Workers Hit A Two Decade High — Photo via Getty

Last April, a memo from acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin to police chiefs telling them that they “may not take any adverse action against any officers because they do or do not use cannabis off duty.” In April 2022, began New Jersey adult-use cannabis sales so now, officers can do what they like regarding the consumption of legal cannabis so long as they are 21 or above.

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

4 Ways To Enjoy Weed Without Smoking It

Terry Hacienda

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June 8, 2022

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With so many cannabis products on the market, it would be a pity not to take advantage of the variety of methods in which it can be consumed.

Cannabis has been a debatable subject for a long time, and people are still wondering about its use and safety. The truth is that the hemp plant has a long history, being used for its multiple benefits since ancient times.

More and more people worldwide have started to consume cannabis. According to Forbes, U.S. cannabis sales are estimated to reach $72 billion by 2030. Various cannabis products, from tinctures, oils, and vapes to toothpaste and gummies, abound on the market.

But since there are so many ways to consume marijuana, it can be challenging to figure out which one would be the best for you. Remember that different methods also imply different kinds of experience. So, if you’re a newbie to cannabis consumption, you may want to get more insight into what each method has to offer.

Smoking

Perhaps the most widespread consumption method, smoking remains the favorite of many users. Smoking weed implies lighting the cannabis flower and inhaling the smoke, which is quite simple compared to other consumption methods. Depending on the strength of the cannabis, you can feel its effects within 5-10 minutes. The “high” feeling can last up to 3 hours, which is maybe one of the most significant advantages of this intake method.

Some of the most popular ways to smoke the cannabis flower include pipes, joints, and blunts. Each method comes with its particularities so that joints are made by rolling cannabis into rolling papers, while pipes come in a specially designed form that allows smoke to travel from that bowl-shaped area to the mouthpiece so that you can make the most of the experience.

These are probably the most popular options when it comes to cannabis smoking, thanks to their compactness, but there are also worth-trying methods like water pipes, also known as bongs. They filter and cool the smoke through water, the reason why many people believe this method to be the healthiest smoking option.

You can also grow your own cannabis and forget about always buying it. As long as you comply with the law and plant your cannabis flowers in a space that is not visible from a public place, you can grow cannabis at home. Make sure you use autoflower cannabis seeds, especially if you’re a beginner, because you don’t have to adjust lighting with seasonal changes.

Vaping

Although some people mistake vaping for smoking, they’re very different concepts. While smoking, as its name also suggests, produces smoke that then reaches your lungs, vaping consists of heating cannabis below the point of combustion, which can reach 370 degrees Fahrenheit. This way, the smoke is transformed into vapors that are inhaled and distributed to the bloodstream. This method is believed to be more lung-friendly and have stronger effects because less THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is lost in the process.

As in the case of smoking, there are several ways to vape cannabis, some of the most popular being vape pens, vaporizers, and dab rigs. Vape pens are the last innovation in terms of cannabis inhalation-related devices, being one of the top choices among consumers. And there’s no wonder why: they come in the size of discrete items that can easily fit in your pocket without drawing too much attention.

Edibles

Moving from smoking and vaping to oral methods might seem a little too much, but you need to know that more and more people opt for this kind of consumption method. With so many cannabis products released on the market lately, it would be a pity not to take advantage of the variety of forms in which cannabis can be taken.

Ingesting cannabis in the form of edibles has gained ground due to various products you can choose from. From baked goods and beverage shots to chips and gummies, you can opt for the option that best suits your needs. Don’t forget that ingestion is different from smoking and vaping in the sense that the active phytochemicals responsible for the “high” take the digestive tract to reach the brain and bloodstream, not the respiratory one. That means the cannabis effects have a delayed onset, taking up to 3 hours to appear, but the good news is that you can enjoy them for up to 12 hours.

With so many cannabis seeds on the market, you can grow your own marijuana and prepare delicious recipes like cannabis-infused chocolate cookies and brownies, cannabutter, and pasta. You can find various cannabis seeds on the market, including autoflowering, feminized, and regular seeds. If you’re a collector, that’s great because now you have the possibility to grow your own mini plantation.

Tinctures

Tinctures are made by soaking the cannabis flower or leaves in alcohol, which makes their absorption through the blood vessels better take place sublingually. Now, how many drops you’re going to use is only up to you. We recommend putting 2 or 3 drops and then waiting for the cannabis to be absorbed to get the full effect. If there will remain cannabis extract under your tongue, don’t worry; the rest is going to be ingested so that no drop is wasted.

Cannabis oils are also widely used, and for a good reason: they help with unmanageable pain, psychological issues (for example, PTSD) , arthritis symptoms, and epilepsy syndromes.

Topicals

Being rather a delivery method than a consumption one, topical cannabis is also worth trying. You’ve probably heard that cannabis helps with issues like anxiety, but did you know that it’s also a great pain reliever? It helps with inflammation and muscle soreness, thus making pain more manageable.

When it comes to topicals, you have a myriad of variants to choose from: creams, oils, lotions, balms, sprays, and salves. If you decide on this method of using cannabis, there are plenty of choices. You can also reap this popular plant’s skincare benefits, choosing products containing cannabis as one of the main active ingredients.

However, it’s worth knowing that you won’t get “high” when using cannabis topicals because this is only possible when it’s ingested, smoked, or vaped, which means it has to reach your bloodstream. By topical application, you only absorb cannabis through the skin.

This article was created in partnership with Cannabis.net

DC Passes Law That Protects Employees From Failed Drug Tests

Maria Loreto

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June 8, 2022

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DC Passes Law That Protects Employees From Failed Drug Tests

The city council passed a bill that protects marijuana users in the workplace. All that’s left is for the bill to be approved by the Mayor.

The city council in D.C. took a step forward in protecting employees from marijuana restrictions. On Tuesday, lawmakers unanimously approved a bill that would stop employers from firing employees who fail marijuana tests. In order to come to fruition, the bill would have to be approved by Mayor Muriel Bowser.

The bill, known as the Cannabis Employment Protections Amendment Act of 2022, protects employees from discrimination against marijuana use, with some exceptions.

If it were to be enacted, employers would have 60 days to notify employees and prospective employees about their new rights.

While the bill protects most workers, there are a few parameters. The bill doesn’t protect employees working in safety-sensitive occupations and people who work at courts and the federal government. It also prohibits “possession, storage, delivery, transfer, display, transportation, sale, purchase, or growing of cannabis at the employee’s place of employment.”

Marijuana use in the workplace is an issue that has caused problems in a variety of states where there are legal marijuana programs in place. Since the drug remains illegal on a federal level, the majority of workplaces adhere to their own rules and judgment when it comes to their employees and marijuana use. This has resulted in firings and complicated legal issues brought up in court.

Legal marijuana was approved in D.C. in 2015. While it’s still illegal to sell or use marijuana in public places or to operate vehicles while under the influence of the drug, anyone over the age of 21 can grow marijuana in their homes, own rolling papers and bongs, and possess up to two ounces of marijuana without fear of repercussions.

No Legal Weed For Delaware Before 2025: House Fails To Override Veto On Cannabis Bill

Benzinga Staff Writer

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June 8, 2022

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Gov. Carney cited his decision to veto due to questions surrounding the “long-term health and economic impacts” of marijuana and “serious law enforcement concerns.”

By Nina Zdinjak

The Delaware House failed to override Gov. John Carney’s veto on the marijuana legalization bill. The cannabis bill that managed to reach the governor’s desk would have removed all penalties for adults over 21 for possessing less than an ounce of weed. Unfortunately, the House didn’t manage to gather enough votes on Tuesday to override Governor’s veto.

Why did Carney veto the bill in the first place?

While Carney has expressed an openness to support medical marijuana over the years, he’s also stated that he does not “believe that promoting or expanding the use of recreational marijuana is in the best interests of the state of Delaware, especially our young people.”

Gov. John Carney / Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images

He cited his decision to veto due to questions surrounding the “long-term health and economic impacts” of marijuana and “serious law enforcement concerns.”

Rep. Ed Osienski who sponsored the bill was hoping to gather enough votes to override the veto, but he fell five votes short, garnering 20 instead of the minimum of 25. In May, the bill had 26 votes, which send it to the Senate. So, what happened this time? Four Democrats, Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, Sean Matthews, Bill Carson and Andria Bennett in addition to Republicans Mike Ramone and Jeffrey Spiegelman, changed their votes, reported WHYY.

Osienski urged his colleagues to stand by their initial votes and respect the will of Delawareans and override Gov. Carney who leaves office in January 2025 after two terms.

“We need legalization,’’ Osienski said on the House floor minutes prior to the roll call vote. “So I beg of my colleagues not to wait until 2025 to do this.”

He added that “we need to fix this problem instead of just denying the freedom and the liberty of Delawareans to be able to purchase this product.”

Though disappointed with the results, Osienski said he was pleased to be “working for Delawareans.”

Emily David, the governor’s spokesperson, said Carney “thanks the House for today’s vote and respects the role of the General Assembly and all of its members in this process. He looks forward to working with them on the important issues that remain this session.”

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

Fact Check: Fox News’ Laura Ingraham Claims That Marijuana Causes Mass Shootings

Terry Hacienda

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June 8, 2022

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Fact Check: Fox News’ Laura Ingraham Claims That Marijuana Causes Mass Shootings

Here are just some reasons why Laura Ingraham’s statement is absolutely absurd, and none of them have to do with marijuana legalization.

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

We’re only halfway through the year, and there has been over 200 mass shootings all around the United States already.

The deadliest of these, the Uvalde school shooting targeting a fourth grade elementary class, was considered the worst since Sandy Hook. This is clearly a systemic problem within the United States, but Fox News host Laura Ingraham doesn’t think so: she made it clear that she’s anti-marijuana legalization by blaming the mass shootings on cannabis laws.

During her talk at The Ingraham Angle last week on Fox News, she said: “This is something that the medical community is well aware of. Yet, you get the sense that billions of dollars on the line are more important than our kids,” she said. “And what’s happening especially to young men in the United States, who are frequent users of the high-potency THC that’s now in marijuana products sold legally in dispensaries across the United States. I mean, this at the very least needs a serious national conversation.”

Yes, she said that.

We’re in shock that someone in this day and age still actually believes pot psychosis is a thing. I mean, that’s so Reefer Madness. Did Laura Ingraham get her research from watching the 1936 propaganda film and nothing more? Because that sounds like it, and she makes herself sound so detached from reality.

There are just so many ways her irrational statement didn’t have any legs. She said that she heard about some vague reports the shooter was smoking weed, but Ingraham thinks that the issue really all lies in the legalization of marijuana and the lax laws surrounding it.

Fact Check

Here are just some reasons why Laura Ingraham’s statement is absolutely absurd. Leave marijuana legalization out of it!

Lax gun laws: According to the Small Arms Survey as reported by BBC, back in 2018 there were around 390 million firearms circulating in the United States, making the ratio of gun ownership 120.5 guns for every 100 residents. The report also states that gun ownership has increased significantly in the last few years, resulting in 11 million people exposed to guns within their homes.

In addition, the Small Arms Survey states that Americans are the #1 country whose citizens own guns. And Harvard researchers correlate this with their findings that when this many people own guns in a developed country, this will lead to many more gun homicides. And of course so many Americans own guns – it’s far too easy to get your hands on one! No matter where you live, you will come across dozens, maybe even hundreds of shops that sell guns. There are gun shows that take place almost every weekend, and you can buy a gun from a friend or family member.

Only store gun purchases require a background check, if any. That’s where firearm buyers have to fill out a form either from the ATF or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Such a background check only takes a few minutes and denials for gun ownership are rare. In fact, cannabis users can’t even own guns.

However, there are states with stricter gun laws such as in Washington DC, Chicago, and New York.

Marijuana legalization has been linked to a reduction in violent crime: There have been several studies documenting how legalizing marijuana has led to a reduction in violent crime rates. In one study in June 2020 conducted by the National Institute of Justice on the Effects of Marijuana Legalization on Law Enforcement, they said that “legalization has apparently coincided with an increase in crime clearance rates in several areas, suggesting that legalization may result in a net positive redistribution in police human resource allocation. In addition, fewer persons are being processed by the criminal justice system on nonviolent marijuana possession offenses.”

In Washington State, for example, the Drug Policy Alliance reports that since they have legalized marijuana in 2012, there has been a reduction in violent crime rates while overall crime rates have stayed at a 40-year low. The National Incident-Based Reporting System also says that violent crime continues to significantly decrease in Washington.

Shooter profiling: Scientific American released a profiling compiled by criminologists, looking at the life histories of mass shooters in the United States. Entitled, The Violence Project, one can find similarities among the shooters, and there is nothing that points to cannabis use. Some notable points here are the fact that almost half of all the shooters were able to get their guns legally from a licensed dealer, private sale, or other form of legal means while others borrowed guns and the rest have unknown origins.

The Violence Project also identified that the most common motivation for the mass shootings was psychosis, which is a type of mental disorder wherein the person can no longer identify what’s real or what isn’t. They also tend to have difficulties with employment, interpersonal conflict with family, friends, or coworkers. More than half of the shooters already had a criminal record, while a great deal of them suffered from a history of trauma or had some form of domestic abuse.

These are the facts, and there’s nothing that links to marijuana use, not even close. Sure, individuals with psychosis shouldn’t use cannabis, but that isn’t even discussed in the profiling. The two issues here are strikingly clear and worrisome: our gun laws are far too lax, while psychiatric care is declining rapidly. Given that the average age of shooters is 18, we need to start paying closer attention to the children we’re raising, look for cues, and find a way to stop exposing them to guns.

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

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