The demand for cannabis beverages infused with THC is being supported by the growing consumption among adults looking for “euphoria” and “therapeutic benefits.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the global market for cannabis beverages estimated at $799.8 million 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of $2 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 16.9%, according to the “Global Cannabis Beverages Industry” report issued on Friday by Reportlinker.com an AI-based award-winning market research solution.
According to the report, the alcoholic segment is readjusted to a revised 15.7% CAGR for the next 7-year period. Meanwhile, the non-alcoholic segment is projected to grow at a 17.5% CAGR to reach$1.6 billion by 2026.
“Non-alcoholic cannabis beverages dominate the market and are also expected to register strong growth, mainly supported by growing demand from female and new customers, especially millennials, and also rising interest in wellness drinks among customers. Cannabis-infused alcoholic beverages are also gaining strong popularity, given their capability to offer the alcohol effect, but with health advantages and no calories. They are mainly used by people who consume cannabis as well as alcohol,” states the report.
The U.S. market is estimated at $649.1 million in 2021 and “accounts for a 70.9% share in the global market.” The report noted that “Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, District of Columbia, and 33 States have granted approval to medical cannabis programs (publicly available), which led to the introduction of many cannabis drinks. Further, 13 states in the country permit the usage of high CBD and low THC products for medical uses, which has resulted in strong adoption of CBD infused cannabis drinks.”
Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Canada and Europe, each forecast to grow at 16.7% and 16.1% by 2026. Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach an estimated market size of $146.7 million in 2026 trailing a CAGR of 14.2% through the analysis period.
THC Segment to Reach $1.2 Billion by 2026
According to the report, the demand for cannabis beverages infused with THC is being supported by the growing consumption among adults looking for “euphoria” and “therapeutic benefits.” In the global THC segment, the U.S., Canada and Europe will drive a 16.2% CAGR. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of $422.5 million in 2020 will reach a projected size of $1.2 billion by 2026. The market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach $76.6 million by 2026.
Under the new bill, it wouldn’t be considered an offense for patients participating in the right-to-try policy to possess Schedule I drugs such as MDMA, DMT, ibogaine, LSD, mescaline, peyote and psilocybin.
Rep. Michael Davis (R) on Wednesday filed a bill to give residents with serious illnesses legal access to a range of psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, ibogaine and LSD through an expanded version of the state’s existing right-to-try law, reported Marijuana Moment.
“There is emerging interest and significant clinical research supporting the safety and efficacy of psychedelic drugs for PTSD, traumatic injury therapy and numerous other conditions,” Davis said in a press release. “Because the [Food and Drug Administration] has not taken action to reschedule these drugs and make them generally available, I am working to make these drugs available through Missouri’s investigational drug access statute.”
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Right To Try
The bill builds on the state’s 2014 right-to-try law, legislation that allows patients with terminal illnesses to access “investigational drugs and devices” that are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Missouri law prohibits specifically the use of Schedule I controlled substances. However, the new bill removes that provision and expands eligibility to include patients with “debilitating” or “life-threatening” illnesses.
Under the new bill, it would not be considered an offense for patients participating in the right-to-try policy to possess Schedule I drugs such as MDMA, DMT, ibogaine, LSD, mescaline, peyote and psilocybin. A patient with a doctor’s recommendation who “has considered all other treatment options” would be exempt from the state’s laws against possessing the substances.
Manufacturers would also be able to produce the substances under state law and physicians and pharmacies could lawfully distribute them.
The data reviewed cases of children and teens of ages 0 -17, who had COVID-19 from March 2020 to June 2021. Researchers found that those who had COVID-19 were 2.66 more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than children who were never in contact with the virus. They were 2.16 more likely to develop diabetes than children who struggled with some other respiratory disease.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects the way in which we process food. There are two types of diabetes: type 1, where the pancreas produces little to no insulin, and type 2, which affects the way in which the body processes glucose. Having diabetes makes it more difficult to cope with other diseases, which tend to have an impact on it and make it more demanding. Over 34 million Americans have this condition.
In previous research, experts found connections between trauma and childhood diabetes diagnoses. A Swedish study conducted on over 10,000 families found that kids who experienced something stressful in their lives — a divorce, disease, or death in the family — were three times more likely to develop type 1 diabetes. While the study didn’t immediately say that trauma causes diabetes, it suggests that stress reduction and mental health care could play a part in prevention.
“We know that there are connections between the brain and immune system, and it is not surprising that psychological trauma can influence the immune balance and contribute to abnormal reactions,” said the study’s lead researcher.
In the case of the pandemic, the best way to prevent serious COVID-19 illness is the vaccine. Health care providers should be aware of this link between COVID-19 and diabetes in children, something that could help children obtain quicker diagnoses and better outcomes.
In 2021, Italian activists formally presented the Supreme Court with more than half a million signatures gathered for a referendum to legalize the personal cultivation of marijuana and psychoactive mushrooms.
On Wednesday, Italian officials certified that activists had indeed collected enough signatures to put marijuana legalization on the ballot this spring, though there’s still one more procedural step before the measure can be officially put before the voters, reported Marijuana Moment.
Photo by Caleb Miller via Unsplash
If the Constitutional Court allows the referendum to go forward, voters are expected to decide on the policy change sometime between April 15 and June 15. Should the referendum make it to the polls, a simple majority will be needed for it to be enacted.
The proposal would eliminate prison sentences for the production and personal consumption of cannabis.
In addition, the electoral referendum would also remove the ban on the cultivation of psychoactive substances in the country, although production and manufacture will remain prohibited.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said at a press conference that the government will not act against the admissibility of referendums. “The government could have in some cases created conditions for the submission to be postponed to next year and it has not done so,” added PM Draghi.
“We believe that the fact that we were able to collect over 500,000 signatures online in a week will be taken into consideration as a strong request to change an unreasonable set of prohibitions from our books,” Marco Perduca, president of the referendum committee, told Marijuana Moment.
A new study shows that different compounds in cannabis have protective elements against COVID-19. So why won’t smoking it help?
A study from Oregon State University has marijuana users feeling pretty good about themselves. Yesterday, it was reported that researchers discovered two cannabinoids that blocked the COVID-19 virus in human cells. It’s a cause worth celebrating, yet one that can be easily misconstrued in the era of social media.
The OSU study suggests that, in the future, with enough research and money invested, compounds in cannabis could be used to battle and even prevent COVID-19, which is exciting and vindicating stuff. In an interview with Vice, one of the researchers said that taking a gummy or a supplement containing these elements could be a path to work towards. Still, it’s important to understand that it’s too early to be making assumptions, especially when people on social media claim that their weed usage is the reason why they haven’t had COVID-19 yet.
The study, published in the Journal of Natural Products, identified two cannabis non-psychoactive cannabinoids that were able to prevent the virus from developing further — CBD-A and CBG-A. These compounds were derived from hemp, since cannabis is a regulated substance and researchers weren’t legally allowed to study it, a bit of information that’s been conveniently left out of most headlines.
Even if you were to consume these cannabinoids in their raw forms, buying them from dispensaries or online, there’s still not enough information that suggests if this would work or not. The study was conducted in a petri dish, so there’s a big disparity between an inanimate object and the human body.
While it’s disappointing to learn that a joint isn’t sufficient to ward off the pandemic, this study is still good news for marijuana users and proponents, adding further evidence that marijuana is worth researchers’ time and investment for a variety of reasons. For the time being, cannabis will just help you relax amidst stressful times.
Want to ward off deadly diseases? A new study suggests adding this to your diet if you want to live longer.
Olive oil might hold the secret to a longer life. A study conducted by researchers from Harvard University found that the liquid prevented death from diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, and more.
Despite years of correlation between olive oil and better health, this new study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, is the first long-term research to look into the effect of olive oil consumption in the U.S.
Researchers collected data from over 92,000 people spanning nearly three decades (1990-2018). Participants were asked questions that included how often they used olive oil in their food. Those who consumed the most olive oil had lower risks of mortality when compared to those who didn’t consume olive oil (19% lower risk of total and cardiovascular disease mortality, 17% less risk of cancer mortality, 29% less of neurodegenerative disease mortality, and more).
“Clinicians should be counseling patients to replace certain fats, such as margarine and butter, with olive oil to improve their health,” said one of the study’s authors. “Our study helps make specific recommendations that will be easy for patients to understand and hopefully implement into their diets.”
Olive oil has long been associated with better health, an essential part of the Mediterranean diet, a type of eating that has been awarded the healthiest diet for the fifth year in a row.
While uprooting your life for a fad diet is not recommended, adding something delicious like olive oil to your usually routine sounds like a simple and rewarding endeavor, one that’s likely to provide you with tons of health benefits.
From a medical standpoint, this information could help health practitioners diagnose and support their patients better.
Living alone is preferable for many, but for men, it could spell trouble for their health. According to a new study, men who live alone have a higher risk of inflammation, something that could affect different aspects of their health.
The study was published in the journal BMJ, and it looked at people’s health and their years living alone, analyzing over 4,835 blood samples of people with an average age of 54. Researchers kept track of participants’ breakups since these tend to preclude periods of solo living. While in women researchers found no negative side effects, men showed interesting findings.
“We have found a significant association between partnership breakups or years lived alone and inflammation for men only, after adjustment for selected confounders,” study author Dr. Karolina Davidsen told CNN. Inflammation can refer to a lot of things, but researchers have found connections between it and people’s nervous system, suggesting that stress can trigger this physical response and increase the odds of heart disease and other adverse conditions.
Dr. Davidsen says that while women didn’t report this finding, one reason for this could be the fact that there were fewer women in the study than men.
Living alone for long periods of time is not something that can be easily corrected, so researchers suggest fighting off these possible negative side effects by maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, like eating healthy and keeping your body moving. Maintaining an eye on your feelings and keeping track of them could also be positive, helping people gauge whether or not they’re feeling lonely, supplementing this with time spent alongside friends and family.
From a medical standpoint, this information could help health practitioners diagnose and support their patients better. Now that there are scientific studies that show evidence that single men are at higher risk of inflammation when compared to other groups, medical practitioners could advise their patients more accurately and build off of these findings.
Vaping sweet spots differ from one user to another. Achieving this phenomenon involves making a raft of adjustments on your vaporizer as well as choosing suitable e-juice.
There is plenty of vaping lingo to learn for any new or aspiring vaper. Some of these terms are relatively basic and not necessarily key to the success of your vaping sessions. However, others must be understood fully before joining in on the vaping craze. What is the sweet spot for vaping, an easy guide to mod setting is provided below.
“Sweet spot” is a common vaping-related phrase that you’ll frequently stumble upon in numerous vape-related publications. But what exactly does this term denote, and how central is it to your success as a vaper? That question shall be the focus of this post.
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What Is right for Vaping
Your sweet spot refers to the point during vaping when you can enjoy an optimal vaping experience. It’s a combination of factors, including implementing specific settings on your vaporizer and choosing the right vape juice. The quality of your vaporizer also plays a crucial role in determining your sweet spot.
Another thing worth noting is that sweet spot varies from one vaper to another. Plus, it depends on your vaping level. Seasoned vapers more commonly experience the phenomenon compared to beginners.
Vape Quality
As we’ve just highlighted, the quality of your vaporizer plays an instrumental role in determining how efficiently you can achieve your sweet spot. With low-quality e-cigs, it’s almost impossible to experience your vaping sweet spot.
Fortunately, there are numerous retail outlets where you can buy the best selling vape juice. While these retailers offer reasonably priced vaporizers, their devices are designed using high-end materials that guarantee an optimal vaping experience.
When looking for quality vaporizers, pay particular attention to brand recognition. Endeavor to find out how famous the brand is and how long they’ve been plying their trade.
It’s also best to check for public reviews from reputable review websites or online community forums. These reviews will offer you a sneak preview of the quality of vaporizers the company deals in.
If you can, also find out the materials used in manufacturing a vaporizer’s components before ordering the device. These materials will typically differ depending on the specific vaporizer part in question.
Photo by Ilias Chebbi via Unsplash
For instance, high-quality vape tanks tend to be made from first-grade titanium. That’s due to the metal’s incredible durability and corrosion resistance.
Kanthal and Nichrome are best for vape coils. These alloys are super heat conductors. Plus, they lack the signature metallic taste, which might impact your vape juice flavors adversely.
When it comes to the drip tip/mouthpiece, glass and ceramic are your best bet. Both materials are poor heat conductors. So, they’re unlikely to burn your mouth while vaping. Glass and ceramic are easier to clean and maintain than other common mouthpiece materials, such as plastic and metal.
There are two significant settings to implement on your vaporizer to achieve your vaping sweet spot. They include airflow and temperature.
Airflow
Decreased airflow results in richer flavors. So, if your idea of a vaping sweet spot mainly depends on the fullness of the flavors generated by your vaporizer, then you might want to experiment with reduced airflow.
However, note that reducing airflow translates to more forceful draws, resulting in a harsher throat hit. The throat hit is a vaping term for the sensation of vapor as it hits the back of your throat.
Besides, reducing the airflow might diminish vapor production. Remember that you need your e-cig to generate a significant amount of vapor to achieve your sweet spot.
So, the convention is to start with standard airflow and then decrease it gradually until you achieve your optimal vaping experience.
Temperature
Many seasoned vapers are already familiar with the concept of Temperature Control (TC). Also known as Variable Temperature (VG), temperature control refers to a practice where you set your vaporizer at a specific temperature mode during your vaping sessions.
Now, the ideal vaping temperature for most people ranges from 390 degrees Fahrenheit to 480F (200C to 250C). But since each vaper is unique, there’s no guarantee that this temperature range will guarantee you an optimal vaping experience. Therefore, you’ll need to experiment with different temperature thresholds until you achieve your sweet spot.
Another thing worth noting is that the temperature control feature is only available in later-generation vaporizers. Earlier-generation e-cigs, such as cigalikes and most vape pens, may lack this feature.
Photo by Christian Wiediger via Unsplash
Sweet Spot and Vape Juice Composition
The composition of your e-juice is another crucial consideration when trying to achieve your vaping sweet spot. Most e-juices contain base liquids (vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol), nicotine, and flavorings.
Each of these compounds plays a significant role in helping you achieve an optimal vaping experience. For instance, vegetable glycerin is noted for its vapor-producing abilities, whereas propylene glycol enhances flavor generation. Cloud chasers generally prefer VG-based e-juices, whereas flavor chasers are more at home with PG-based e-liquids.
Start with vape oils formulated with 60% vegetable glycerin and 40% propylene glycol if you’re new to vaping. Then, adjust as required until you achieve your sweet spot.
Also, note that each vaper has its ideal nicotine tolerance. To achieve your vaping sweet spot, you’ll need to choose e-liquids formulated with the nicotine potency your body is already used to.
Vaping sweet spots differ from one user to another. Achieving this phenomenon involves making a raft of adjustments on your vaporizer as well as choosing suitable e-juice.
In November, taxes for recreational marijuana sales in Arizona totaled around $5.05 million, slightly above medical cannabis tax, which amounted to $5.03 million.
Arizona continues to smash cannabis sales records, with yet another milestone of over $1.23 billion of marijuana products sold during the first 11 months of 2021, Arizona Mirror writes.
After soaring to record highs in October to nearly $58 million, adult-use recreational cannabis sales hit a new peak in November by surpassing $60 million for the first time. On the medical side, after reaching $73 million in March and April, sales fluctuated throughout the year.
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In October, estimated cannabis sales for both programs were within $7 million of each other, representing the first time recreational sales came so close to medical sales. With the state collecting a 16% excise tax on recreational sales in addition to the standard sales tax, cannabis sales provided a solid tax contribution in the previous year.
In November, taxes for recreational marijuana sales totaled around $5.05 million, slightly above medical cannabis tax, which amounted to $5.03 million.
Arizona voters approved the use of recreational cannabis in November 2020. According to the New York Times and The Associated Press, 59.9% of voters in the Grand Canyon State voted “yes” for Proposition 207, dubbed Smart & Safe.
Michigan Cannabis Sales Still Booming
In the meantime, Benzinga’s home state of Michigan ended 2021 with a strong December in terms of cannabis sales, which increased by 66% year-over-year to $168 million.
Medical cannabis sales fell 17% from a year ago, to $32.9 million, according to Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency’s data. Adult-use sales, meanwhile, increased by 119% over the same period to a record $135 million, representing a sequential improvement of 12%.
Flower and trim sales represented 56% of the overall market, consistent with the prior two months but lower than the 57% in the third quarter and 58% in the second quarter.
In addition, flower pricing for adult-use cannabis saw a dramatic decline of 47% year-over-year and 3% from November to $2,958 per pound.
In 2021, year-to-date combined sales were up 82%, reaching $1.79 billion.
The new provisions are expected to help streamline oversight of the industry, reduce violence and help keep children from accessing hemp products containing THC.
As of Jan. 1, Oregonians can legally purchase up to two ounces of cannabis flower from licensed retailers, NORML reports.
In a Dec. 28 meeting, Oregon’s Liquor and Cannabis Commission approved new rules, including doubling how much marijuana customers can purchase and giving the green light to home delivery across city and county lines, among other issues.
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The new provisions are expected to help streamline oversight of the industry, reduce violence and help keep children from accessing hemp products containing THC, the agency said.
Last year, lawmakers enacted legislation, Senate Bill 408, allowing the amount of cannabis flower that adults can possess to two ounces and more when they’re in their homes.
The new rules have taken effect on the heels of Oregon lawmakers passing Senate Bill 893 and Senate Bill 5561 last month, with a goal of putting an end to illicit cannabis cultivation by creating better infrastructure to fight the proliferation of illegal marijuana grows in Southern Oregon.
SB 5561, a funding bill, includes $20 million for the Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement Grant Program and another $5 million to the state Water Resources Department for increased water rights enforcement.
In November, voters in Oregon approved Measure 110, which will decriminalize the possession of small amounts of all illegal drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, methamphetamine and LSD, as well as create a support program for drug abuse and addiction.
Oregonians also voted to approve another measure, which is seeking to create a program for the therapeutic use of psilocybin — the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms.”
