There’s Never Been A Better Time To Be An Edibles Chef

Tom Gaffey

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February 18, 2022

There’s Never Been A Better Time To Be An Edibles Chef

As edibles continue to grow in popularity and more states legalize recreational weed, the need for quality culinary cannabis professionals will grow as well.

It’s safe to say the cannabis culinary palate has moved beyond brownies. In fact, the flavors and cuisine involving marijuana has become so exciting that several talented chefs have packed up their knives and left jobs at Michelin starred restaurants to pursue a life in culinary cannabis.

Accordingn to CNBC, edibles chefs normally make between $50,000 to $100,000 per year, depending on the experience level and job requirements. This salary range is similar to that of a restaurant chef. But unlike typical restaurants, which have faced a plethora of difficulties and red tape throughout the pandemic, the life of a cannabis chef seems to be infused with more opportunity every day.

In 2021, the documented legal sale of edibles continued to skyrocket, reaching almost $3.6 billion. This growth is expected to continue. “Sales of food and beverages infused with cannabis are expected to increase to an estimated 8.24 billion U.S. dollars by 2025,” according to Statista.

edibles cannabutter — Photo by Steve Cicero/Getty Images

The market has grown so much that even higher education has grown hip to the developing need for cannabis chefs in the workforce. The American Culinary Federation (ACF) now offers a certificate that culinary students can earn in order to make them proficient in cooking with cannabis.

The “Specialized Certificate of Culinary Cannabis and Edibles” was created to prove that the chef possesses the “proficiency on the skills, knowledge and competencies for safely handling culinary cannabis and edibles,” according to the American Culinary Federation.

One of the biggest names in culinary cannabis right now is Andrea Drummer. This LA based chef is making waves and headlines with America’s first legal cannabis restaurant, Original Cannabis Cafe. This popular West Hollywood eatery “represents the first of what many potential legal cannabis cafes and lounges around the country could look like,” according to Food & Wine.

There is also great “side hustle” potential for cannabis chefs that can grow into blossoming businesses. The cannabis culinary world is churning out everything from private dinners to cannabis cookbooks, and the masses are biting.

Jessica Catalano is dubbed “the pioneer of strain specific cannabis cuisine,” and her website goes in detail about the “hemptarian diet” she created. Catalano has turned legalized recreational marijuana into her culinary playing field – testing new waters and becoming successful in navigating these new waters. She has even published a popular cookbook “The Ganja Revolution: The Bible of Cannabis Cuisine.”

weed brownies edibles — Photo by Sarah Pender/Getty Images

Chef Miguel Trinidad’s “99th Floor” is one example of a respected chef creating a lucrative side hustle by utilizing cannabis. The 99th floor is an exclusive private dinner club in New York City whose mission is “Destigmatizing Cannabis through the Universal Language of Food.”

99th Floor’s Facebook page also hints at a line of edibles that should be available in dispensaries soon. Now that New York has legalized recreational marijuana, chefs like Trinidad, who have been working with edibles and growing a local reputation, will have a leg up on the competition in this highly lucrative market segment.

The life of a chef is never dull, and thanks to legalized marijuana, it has become increasingly exciting in many states. As edibles continue to grow in popularity and more states legalize recreational weed, the need for quality culinary cannabis professionals will grow as well. Perhaps it is time to dust off that chef’s coat and get in on the ground floor kitchen.

Hawaii Senate Committee Approves Bill To Legalize Weed For All Seniors

Benzinga Staff Writer

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February 18, 2022

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Hawaii Senate Committee Approves Bill To Legalize Weed For All Seniors

By Nicolas Jose Rodriguez

A Senate committee in Hawaii passed a bill to allow people 65 and older to automatically qualify for medical marijuana, regardless of their condition, reported Marijuana Moment.

The bill SB2718 would change the state’s existing medical marijuana law. Currently, only those with a debilitating medical condition can qualify for the program. The new bill would expand the scope of current law to include all seniors 65 and older.

seniors and cannabis — Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

The proposed Act acknowledges that medical cannabis has been demonstrated to positively help with often-recurring health issues, such as “insomnia, anxiety and stress”, “resulting in a better quality of life.” According to the lawmakers behind the bill, these problems have been “exacerbated by the pandemic, economic instability, and increasing uncertainty.”

The legislation passed the Senate Health Committee unanimously after the same committee approved a bill to set up a working group to study the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin mushrooms.

February brought good news for senior citizens who enjoy cannabis in the U.S. as well as for those who have not yet tried it.

On Tuesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a bill into law that will expand access to the District’s medical marijuana program for people 65 and older. The bill establishes that applicants should be able to “self-certify that they will use cannabis for medical purposes in lieu of including a recommendation from their health care practitioner,” the administration said.

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

COVID-19 Patients May Be At Higher Risk For These Illnesses, Finds New Study

Maria Loreto

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February 17, 2022

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COVID-19 Patients May Be At Higher Risk For These Illnesses, Finds New Study

A new study shows that people with COVID-19 were more likely to develop a mental health condition when compared to people who never had the disease.

As the months and years pass, researchers are discovering more and more risk factors of COVID-19. A new study reveals that patients with the disease are at higher odds of developing a variety of mental health problems.

The study, published in the journal The BMJ, showed that the pandemic had an extra influence on mental health, aside from the expected stress of isolation and anxiety surrounding the disease. People who experienced COVID-19 showed higher odds of developing a mental health disorder when compared to people who never caught it.

depression anxiety — Photo by Maskot/Getty Images

The study was large, analyzing data of over 150,000 patients in the Veterans Health Administration. The only data that was analyzed was the one belonging to patients with no mental health diagnoses or treatment for at least two years before contracting COVID-19. Researchers found that patients with COVID-19 were 35% and 39% more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety, respectively, in the months following infection than people who didn’t have the disease. Infected people were also 41% more likely to be diagnosed with a sleep disorder than uninfected people.

While most people who get COVID-19 won’t develop a mental health condition (only 4.4% and 5.6% of people in the study received diagnoses for a mental health condition), it’s still a connection between the two, one that should be paid attention to.

Other interesting results that are worth keeping an eye on include patients who had COVID-19 being more likely to turn to alcohol (20%), opioids (34%), and more for relief.

Odds are the majority of us experienced some mental distress during the pandemic. For some, coping with the disease responsible for the deaths of millions of people all over the world might have added some understandable extra stress.

Israeli Study Shows Promising Medical Marijuana Results For Trauma

Benzinga Staff Writer

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February 17, 2022

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Israeli Study Shows Promising Medical Marijuana Results For Trauma

Nearly half of the patients reported that their quality of life had improved during the time of treatment.

By Maureen Meehan

A recent clinical trial conducted by Soroka University Medical Center and Israeli medical cannabis company Cannbit-Tikun Olam (TASE:TKUN) showed promising results, especially for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reported the Jerusalem Post.

Notably, a number of cannabis-medicated patients stopped or reduced their dosages of opioids by 52%, anti-psychotics by 36.9%, anti-epileptics by 35.7% and hypnotics and sedatives by 35.3%. Overall, over two-thirds of patients reported at least moderate improvement with no serious side effects, with 90.8% of treated PTSD patients being classified as therapeutic successes after six months.

Legalizing MDMA For PTSD Treatment: How Close Are We? — Photo by ipopba/Getty Images

Other benefits included a decrease in rage attacks, restlessness, nausea and sleep disturbances. Nearly half of the patients reported that their quality of life had improved during the time of treatment.

The study, conducted over several years, focused on 8,500 male and female Israelis, averaging 54.6 years old, using marijuana strains developed by Cannbit-Tikun Olam.

“In the past, we already demonstrated that treatment with medical cannabis products relieves symptoms and improves quality of life for patients,” said Lihi Bar-Lev Schleider the company’s head of R&D. “This is the first time that in-depth, organized and systematic analysis of a large amount of data on a very large group of patients was performed, and in which, without bias, the effect of the treatment for various indications was examined.”

In December last year, an exclusive and mutual collaboration agreement was signed by Cannbit-Tikun Olam and Teva Pharmaceuticals, wherein the former’s products will be distributed by the latter throughout Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

“The medical cannabis arena is developing and being professionalized at a dizzying pace in Israel, and there is more openness to it in Israel and worldwide,” Teva Israel CEO Yossi Ofek said.

“Today, it is clear to many in the pharmaceutical industry and in the medical community that the use of oils produced from specific cannabis strains may provide additional treatment options and respond to unmet medical needs of patients. I have no doubt that the medical cannabis oils Cannbit-Tikun Olam produces – according to Teva’s high quality and safety standards – will help us realize our goal of improving the lives of patients.”

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

Doctors No Longer Needed For Seniors To Get Medical Marijuana In DC

Benzinga Staff Writer

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February 17, 2022

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Doctors No Longer Needed For Seniors To Get Medical Marijuana In DC

The emergency legislation is meant to ease logistical burdens for medical marijuana patients and encourage people to get their cannabis from licensed dispensaries.

By Maureen Meehan

It is about to become much easier for senior citizens to register for medical marijuana in Washington D.C.

Mayor Muriel Bowser has signed a bill into law that will expand access to the District’s medical marijuana program in a series of ways.

For starters, people 65 and older can “self-certify that they will use cannabis for medical purposes in lieu of including a recommendation from their health care practitioner with their registration application as is required for all other applicants,” the administration said.

The law also extends the registration renewal deadline for other patients and creates a week-long medical marijuana tax “holiday” that happens to coincide with 4/20.

It is about to become much easier for senior citizens to register for medical marijuana in Washington D.C.

Mayor Muriel Bowser has signed a bill into law that will expand access to the District’s medical marijuana program in a series of ways.

For starters, people 65 and older can “self-certify that they will use cannabis for medical purposes in lieu of including a recommendation from their health care practitioner with their registration application as is required for all other applicants,” the administration said.

The law also extends the registration renewal deadline for other patients and creates a week-long medical marijuana tax “holiday” that happens to coincide with 4/20.

seniors cannabis — Photo by Westend61/Getty Images

Senior Week is part of the Medical Marijuana Patient Access Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2022, which Mayor Bowser signed into law last week.

There’s more: Patient and caregiver registrations issued through Sept. 30 will be good for two years, which is double the usual term; the registration fees are already waived through April 24 and medical cannabis products purchased at any of D.C.’s seven licensed dispensaries will be exempt from the 6% sales tax.

The emergency legislation is meant to ease logistical burdens for medical marijuana patients and encourage people to get their cannabis from licensed dispensaries, rather than the gray market vendors.

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

New York Senate Gives Green Light To Marijuana Licensing & Equity Bill

Benzinga Staff Writer

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February 17, 2022

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New York Senate Gives Green Light To Marijuana Licensing & Equity Bill

The state’s cannabis program aims to create an industry predicated on social equity, inclusion and one that ensures local economic success.

By Jelena Martinovic

The New York Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would provide provisional marijuana cultivator and processor licenses to existing hemp businesses that take specific steps to promote equity in the emerging industry, Marijuana Moment reported.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Michelle Hinchey (D) and approved in a 50-13 vote, seeks to both speed up the process of starting New York’s adult-use market, and support efforts to reach equity goals with respect to cannabis business participation.

How New York Cannabis Legalization Prioritizes Equity — Photo by Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis via Unsplash

“I’m proud to sponsor legislation to help them obtain conditional licenses, which will allow New York to implement its cannabis program faster,” Senator Hinchey said. “Our existing hemp growers, who have been some of the hardest hit by market fluctuations, already have the knowledge base to meet this need, and I’m proud to sponsor legislation to help them obtain conditional licenses, which will allow New York to implement its cannabis program faster.”

Hinchey pointed out that New York state’s cannabis program aims to create an industry predicated on social equity, inclusion and one that ensures local economic success. “To achieve these goals and create a truly circular economy, we need New York farmers to begin the growing process now so that when cannabis dispensaries open, we can fill shelves with quality New York-grown products.”

The Assembly is taking up an identical companion measure on Wednesday, which could result in legislation being sent to the governor’s desk. Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D) is sponsoring the chamber’s version of the licensing bill.

While regulators are still finalizing licensing rules, and with no retailers yet authorized to sell recreational marijuana, adults 21 and older can legally possess and publicly consume cannabis and gift it to other adults, without compensation.

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

Kentucky Bill Proposing To Ban Delta-8 Products Could Cost The State Billions Of Dollars

Benzinga Staff Writer

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February 17, 2022

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Kentucky Bill Proposing To Ban Delta-8 Products Could Cost The State Billions Of Dollars

While hemp stakeholders in the Bluegrass State claim that delta-8 THC is legal under the legislation’s provisions, regulators emphasize that the compound is not naturally derived from the hemp plant.

By Jelena Martinovic

The Kentucky legislature is seeking to ban all forms of “intoxicating products” made from industrial hemp, such as delta-8 THC, a form of THC distinguished from the more common delta-9 THC found in cannabis plants, Hemp Today writes.

According to a bill proposed this week, smokable hemp would also be prohibited by the law — in the form of cigarettes or cigars — as well as smokeless products including chew or dip, whole hemp buds, hemp teas and ground hemp flowers and leaves.

CBD cigarettes — Photo by Lumppini/Getty Images

The legislation, which expands existing language in the state’s law, is also designed to outlaw other hemp-derived minor cannabinoids like delta-10 THC, THC-O, and THC-P, as per an unofficial copy of the proposal.

While hemp stakeholders in the Bluegrass State have been interpreting the 2018 Farm Bill to their favor, claiming that delta-8 THC is legal under the legislation’s provisions, regulators have pushed back, emphasizing that the compound is not naturally derived from the hemp plant.

The Kentucky Hemp Association highlighted that a ban on delta-8 THC would result in the loss of potentially billions of dollars by Kentucky’s cannabis economy, including growers, producers and retail operators.

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

These New Sex And Relationship Stats Are Incredibly Dismal

News
Sex

Maria Loreto

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February 16, 2022

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These New Sex And Relationship Stats Are Incredibly Dismal

New surveys show that sex and relationships are facing an all-time low.

On Valentine’s Day, it seems the country is at a 30 year low for sex and living together, with marriages and partnerships decreasing the younger people are. The finding is from a published General Social Survey, which uncovered some curious findings showing a generational change when it comes to dating and romance.

The survey’s results show the low numbers aren’t due to the pandemic. This trend has been ongoing for years, with every new survey reinforcing it. In 2021, 26% of Americans over the age of 18 hadn’t had sex over the past year. While this percentage was higher than previous years, surveys in 2016 and 2018 came in at 23%.

How CBD Can Improve Your Sex Life — Photo by Becca Tapert via Unsplash

CNN argues that this phenomenon isn’t limited to sex. Numbers from Pew Research Center say that 62% of Americans between the ages of 25 to 54 were married or living with a partner, a lower number than in previous years. According to Pew polling, it appears the economy is impacting people’s decision to marry, with a lot of them saying that they won’t get married if it’s not financially feasible.

Lastly, results show that this trend has more to do with people’s mindsets than their ages. People over the age of 55 continue to have the same partnership and sex trends as they did 30 years ago. It’s younger people whose interests have waned.

While news like this tends to cause alarm for a lot of people, particularly those who are older, maybe we shouldn’t start calling for the end of humanity just yet.

A lot of single people today are happier and more empowered than they were before, shifting their priorities until the time is right for them or they have fulfilled their professional achievements. Maybe the prospect of marriage and kids is less enticing when the economy is falling, we’re in the middle of a pandemic and the threat of global warming lurks around the corner.

Cannabis Boom In Oklahoma, Will Texas Follow Suit?

Benzinga Staff Writer

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February 16, 2022

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Cannabis Boom In Oklahoma, Will Texas Follow Suit?

In Texas, only three companies are authorized to supply cannabis for the state’s medical program, while state officials in Oklahoma have licensed some 12,000 marijuana-related businesses.

By Nicolas Jose Rodriguez

Texas’ Compassionate Use Program remains one of the most restrictive in the U.S. Through the program, the Department of Public Safety operates a secure online registry of qualified physicians who can prescribe low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to patients with specific medical conditions.

The Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT) is designed to prevent more than one qualified physician from registering as the prescriber for a single patient, and is accessible to law enforcement agencies and dispensing organizations to verify patients of low-THC cannabis.

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

Meanwhile, across state lines in Oklahoma, where voters legalized medical marijuana in 2018, is experiencing a weed-industry boom, reported NBC News. The medical cannabis market in the Sooner State generated about $150 million in 2021 revenue.

In Texas, only three companies are authorized to supply cannabis for the state’s medical program. However, in Oklahoma, state officials have licensed some 12,000 marijuana-related businesses, and about 1 in 10 people has medical marijuana cards.

Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Kevin Stitt pointed to the relatively low cost of obtaining a cannabis business license, noting that without a cap on marijuana operators, the market has expanded at an unsustainable rate.

“Oklahoma charges just $2,500 for a commercial license,” Stitt said, noting that California charges far more, in fact up to 72 times more. “As a result, we have seven times the growers in California with just 10 percent of the people.

Next door in Arkansas, they have eight growers. We have 8,300,” the governor said. “You know as well as I do that not all of that product is being sold legally. This is a perfect example of why we need to make sure initiative petitions represent Oklahomans and not out-of-state special interest groups,” added the Governor.

medical marijuana — Photo by LPETTET/Getty Images

Morgan Fox, political director of NORML, said the system rightly favors small businesses.

“This is a system that is set up to basically create opportunities for small businesses,” Fox said. “There’s a lot of room for people to start up businesses without a tremendous amount of capital.”

Paulie Wood, a former California grower and the CEO of Kannabiz Monkeeyz told NBC that he decided to close his West Coast operations because of the “insane over-taxation” and headed for Oklahoma.

“In Oklahoma, you can literally start a grow for under $10,000, whereas in California you’re going to be out hundreds of thousands of dollars to just getting started,” Wood added. “They call it the wild west of cannabis. It’s the nicest, friendliest state we could ever want to be in.”

Oklahoma grower Josh Blevins told NBC that he and other growers regularly serve Texas customers who make the drive to purchase legal cannabis.

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

5 Marijuana Hacks To Make The Most Of Your Experience

Maria Loreto

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February 16, 2022

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5 Marijuana Hacks To Make The Most Of Your Experience

Want to make the most of your weed? Here’s how compact discs, honey, pennies, and other common objects can help.

By the time you’ve become a seasoned marijuana consumer, you’ll likely learn all of the little tricks you need to help make the most of your weed. From extending the life of your stash, grinding your own flower when you’re in a pinch, and enhancing your experience in general, here are some hacks that will improve your smoking significantly.

Mints

Link Between Cannabis And The Munchies Is More Complicated Than You Might Think — Photo by Christopher Williams via Unsplash

When the munchies strike, there’s very little you can do except indulge. Seasoned cannabis users usually learn to curb their urges, but for newcomers, mints are a good option. Mints can help you focus on something else, distracting you from the urge of eating food. Just like people who stop smoking tend to chew gum, mints can help keep your mind off blowing your diet.

A Penny

Dispensaries And Marijuana Businesses Expect Sales To Rise Ahead Of Super Bowl — Photo by Elsa Olofsson via Unsplash

While you should always invest in a grinder, there are ways of cutting your marijuana neatly and evenly when in a bind. Take a penny and clean it thoroughly, then put your marijuana in a pillbox, drop the penny inside, close it up, and shake. Keep on shaking. After a vigorous workout, you’ll be left with some evenly cut marijuana.

Honey

Honey is a great companion for marijuana. After you’ve finished rolling up a joint or a blunt, be sure to coat it with a small amount of honey. This will ensure that your joint/blunt burns more slowly and evenly while also adding some sweetness.

Compact and Floppy Discs

What Happens When You Smoke Two Cannabis Strains From The Same Bowl — Photo by Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash

If you’re visiting your parents’ house, you’ll probably run into some floppy discs. These can be used to neatly pack bowls by using the middle hole of the discs. Easy, fast, and you’ll give use to something that is otherwise trash.

A Sock

Oh yeah, there’s also this.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

There’s Never Been A Better Time To Be An Edibles Chef

As edibles continue to grow in popularity and more states legalize recreational weed, the need for quality culinary cannabis professionals will grow as well.

Hawaii Senate Committee Approves Bill To Legalize Weed For All Seniors

COVID-19 Patients May Be At Higher Risk For These Illnesses, Finds New Study

A new study shows that people with COVID-19 were more likely to develop a mental health condition when compared to people who never had the disease.

Israeli Study Shows Promising Medical Marijuana Results For Trauma

Nearly half of the patients reported that their quality of life had improved during the time of treatment.

Doctors No Longer Needed For Seniors To Get Medical Marijuana In DC

The emergency legislation is meant to ease logistical burdens for medical marijuana patients and encourage people to get their cannabis from licensed dispensaries.

New York Senate Gives Green Light To Marijuana Licensing & Equity Bill

The state’s cannabis program aims to create an industry predicated on social equity, inclusion and one that ensures local economic success.

Kentucky Bill Proposing To Ban Delta-8 Products Could Cost The State Billions Of Dollars

While hemp stakeholders in the Bluegrass State claim that delta-8 THC is legal under the legislation’s provisions, regulators emphasize that the compound is not naturally derived from the hemp plant.

These New Sex And Relationship Stats Are Incredibly Dismal

New surveys show that sex and relationships are facing an all-time low.

Cannabis Boom In Oklahoma, Will Texas Follow Suit?

In Texas, only three companies are authorized to supply cannabis for the state’s medical program, while state officials in Oklahoma have licensed some 12,000 marijuana-related businesses.

5 Marijuana Hacks To Make The Most Of Your Experience

Want to make the most of your weed? Here’s how compact discs, honey, pennies, and other common objects can help.

Mints

A Penny

Honey

Compact and Floppy Discs

A Sock

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