Friday, May 8, 2026
Home Blog Page 295

3 Weed Related Accessories Every Stoner Needs Heading Into 2022

0

Though there’s nothing stopping people from consuming marijuana the same way they always have, it wouldn’t hurt to try something fresh with the onset of a new year.

There are numerous ways cannabis consumption has changed over the course of the past several years. Widespread marijuana legalization throughout the nation has led to an influx of innovation when it comes to the options people have for consuming it.

Making matters more intriguing is the fact that attitudes across much of the world are changing when it comes to cannabis. This may lead to many cannabis enthusiasts expanding their horizons when it comes to the accessories they consider their essentials, which should be a welcome idea. This is especially the case if you’re still stuck in the days of rolling doobies in the basement.

2022 presents the perfect opportunity to change up both scenery and marijuana consumption methods. Here’s what it’ll take.

rolling a marijuana joint
Photo by Westend61/Getty Images

A Smell-Proof Stash Can

Even though marijuana isn’t as frowned upon as it once was, it can still be enough to cause trouble in some locations. By having a smell-proof stash can handy, no one in public will be able to tell what you have when taking cannabis on the go.

There are lots of smell proof stash cans with designs that mirror regular household items like bug spray and tea cans. They serve the purpose of being both effective at hiding the smell and looking inconspicuous to strangers. This allows people to carry their goods with peace of mind and safety no matter where they’re located.

A Vaporizer

Whether people prefer wax or herbs, there’s likely a vaporizer on the market that works for them. The market for vaporizers has become so robust over the course of the past couple of years that there are hundreds to choose from. It’s not surprising given the fact that they make toking so seamless and inconspicuous.

A lot of vaporizers come with enough customization that users can control the level of smoke they exhale and how quickly it heats the cannabis. Not to mention the fact that vaporizers provide users with a higher THC intake than combustible methods of consumption. Whether it’s for dry herb or for concentrates, a vaporizer is a necessity for cannabis enthusiasts hoping to take their experiences with marijuana to a higher level.

vape pen
Photo by Dmitry_Tishchenko/Getty Images

A Chillum/One-Hitter

One of the biggest downfalls of vaporizers is the fact that they rely on being properly charged. Being out and about with a dead vape can be a drag, which is where having an alternative can become advantageous.

RELATED: 5 Essential Gifts For The Weed Lover In Your Life

Before vaporizers became trendy, one-hitters used to be the only way to consume on the go, in a somewhat discreet fashion. There are many one-hitters that are shaped to look exactly like cigarettes, so when they’re being lit, it looks similar to someone lighting up a smoke instead of weed. The only thing that gives it away is the smell, which tends to dissipate quickly.

RELATED: 3 Reasons Bowls And Bongs Are Now Obsolete

Though there’s nothing stopping people from consuming marijuana the same way they always have, it wouldn’t hurt to try something fresh with the onset of a new year. The conditions are better now than they ever have been for marijuana enthusiasts to change the way they consume!

Judge Turns Down Request To Reinstate Over $229M In Michigan Marijuana After Recall

The more than 200-page complaint filed in the Michigan Court of Claims argues that the MRA illegally shut down facilities and issued the recall despite experts stating that it was unwarranted.

By Jelena Martinovic

The saga of Michigan’s moldy marijuana recall continues as the state’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency’s (MRA) request to reinstate a recall on contaminated products was denied by The Court of Claims on Monday, Dec. 20, MLive reported.

Attorneys for the Michigan regulatory body filed a court motion last week, urging the judge to reconsider his previous decision, disclosing that 26% of the retested marijuana, following the massive recall on Nov. 17, showed higher than allowable levels of yeast, mold, and aspergillus, potentially harmful to people suffering from lung diseases or with weakened immune systems.

cannabis research
Photo by Nastasic/Getty Images

Greg Michaud, CEO of Viridis Laboratories, said in a statement released following the MRA’s move that the motion is “yet another example of its lack of transparency and a clear attempt to harm our reputation without providing details or explanations to back them up.”

State-Wide Marijuana Recall

The regulatory body initially issued a recall of marijuana products last month that passed safety assessments at testing facilities over the last several months, nearly 70% of the state’s on-shelf cannabis products sold at more than 400 stores.

The MRA reported having detected “inaccurate and/or unreliable results” of all products — excluding inhalable concentrate products, such as live resin, distillate or vape carts — tested by Viridis Laboratories and Viridis North between Aug. 10 and Nov. 16.

According to the lawsuit filed against the MRA by the marijuana testing facility at the center of the debacle, the recall resulted in an estimated $229 million disruption in the industry.

The more than 200-page complaint filed in the Michigan Court of Claims argues that the MRA illegally shut down Viridis’s facilities and issued the recall despite experts stating that it was unwarranted to do so.

“The recall is the latest and most egregious action by the MRA in a prolonged campaign of harassment aimed at Viridis,” Viridis Laboratories’ attorney David Russell said back then.

Judge Partially Rules In Favor Of Viridis

However, in early December, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray partially ruled in favor of Viridis in a decision resulting in the testing laboratory winning half of its claim against state regulators.

Murray ruled that state marijuana regulators likely acted arbitrarily in ordering a recall against Viridis North in Bay City.

RELATED: Michigan Gov. Ends Ban On Medical Marijuana Biz Licenses For Past Pot Convictions

“Public safety concerns are one of the main purposes and duties of the MRA, and undoubtedly it believes the recall of both Viridis and Viridis North was necessary to protect the public,” the judge said in his 13-page opinion, adding that “when there is no evidence that Viridis North’s testing also fit into that category, the safety concerns are reduced.”

marijuana testing
Photo by Esther Kelleter/Getty Images

In the meantime, the regulatory agency’s scientific and legal section manager Claire Patterson testified on Dec. 2 that MRA had received 18 complaints from consumers or retail location reporting on behalf of customers claiming they experienced negative health effects after using the recalled product. The number of complaints which have been filed in the meantime climbed to 19.

RELATED: Michigan Report: Cannabis Dispensaries Not The Main Source Of Weed Purchases

“The email complaints that were provided to MLive via FOIA raise additional concerns,” Michaud said. “Interestingly, the MRA has delayed responding to our recent FOIA requests and continues to be unresponsive to many of our and others’ inquiries for additional information and further explanation, reinforcing our belief that this recall was motivated not by safety concerns but a retaliatory attack on a successful Michigan business.”

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

German Company Confirms Marijuana Agreement With Taliban Regime

0

A deal has been finalized with a German company dedicated to the development of cannabinoid-based medicines called Cpharm.

By Franca Quarneti, Via El Planteo

A few weeks ago, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan announced that it had reached an agreement with a company to grow and manufacture cannabis products in the country.

Through social media, the Ministry of Interior reported that a company called Cpharm would make an investment of more than $400 million to create a factory to produce marijuana.

afghanistan flag
Photo by Farid Ershad via Unsplash

What Happened?

A media scramble set the spotlight on a small consulting firm outside Sydney, Australia, called Cpharm. Quickly, through a statement, the company denied having any relationship with the regime.

“We have no relationship with cannabis or the Taliban. We have no idea where the Taliban statement has come from in the media and we want to assure everyone that it must not be related to Cpharm Pty Ltd Australia,” they assured.

After the media hype, Qari Saeed Khosty, the Taliban spokesman, tweeted to set the record straight: The deal had been finalized with a German company dedicated to the development of cannabinoid-based medicines called Cpharm.

The German Company With An Actual Cannabis Deal With Afghanistan

Cannabis Now contacted CPharm International’s offices in Bonn and spoke with its CEO, Werner Zimmerman.

“We started talks with Afghanistan in 2017 when their parliament passed a medical cannabis law,” Zimmerman said, adding, “In November 2020, we started setting up the infrastructure near Mazar-i-Sharif in the north of the country, bringing in experts to build a laboratory. But the previous government put in place by the Americans was very corrupt.”

RELATED: We Need To Recognize That The War In Afghanistan Is Not Our ‘Longest War’

Moreover, following the Taliban advance in August, the CEO believes he has “better prospects”.

“The new government loves us very much,” he said.

“CPharm will engage in contract farming, building an extraction center to process cannabis grown on plots of land by local landowners,” Zimmerman explained. “Local growers will receive our seeds and meet our industry standards.”

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

3 Ways Marijuana Can Help You Stay Sober In The New Year

0

Marijuana can be a useful tool when it comes to reducing and curbing your alcohol use.

The New Year is a time for resolutions and setting new goals and objectives. During these past couple of years, our relationship with alcohol has shifted, and not for the better; we’re consuming way more alcohol.

Sobriety can be tough. It requires people to be focused and not succumb to peer pressure, since alcohol is such a widely used and accepted substance. Still, there are a variety of options that can help you curb those impulses in ways that are healthier and better, including cannabis.

If you could use a reboot, here are some ways in which cannabis can help you stay sober in the new year.

Try out different cannabis methods

marijuana cannabis joint
Photo by Cavan Images/Getty Images

RELATED: An Alcoholic’s Guide To Cannabis Consumption

If you’re interested in reducing your alcohol use, you should try embracing cannabis in different forms. Unlike alcohol, which is mostly used as social lubricant, cannabis lends itself to a variety of uses, such as working out, managing stress, and, of course, being around friends.

Different cannabis methods can help you expand your relationship with the plant, distracting you from couch lock or getting high simply because it’s fun and there’s nothing better to do. Edibles, vapes, tinctures, and flower are amongst the many options that are available for cannabis users today. (Here are 8 Popular Ways People Are Using Cannabis In 2021.)

Have the support of a friend

How To Make Friends As An Adult
Photo by Raghu Nayyar via Unsplash

Whenever embarking on a new endeavor, getting the help of a friend can help in terms of accountability. Aside from reminding you of your goals, your friend can also join you on your journey, becoming your smoke buddy for workouts, walks, and outings. The more you keep your cannabis use varied, the more fun you’ll have, and the more fulfilled your cannabis relationship will be.

Create new routines

Cannabis & Workouts: How To Do It Safely
Photo by Karsten Winegeart via Unsplash

RELATED: CBD Now Clearly Linked To Reduced Alcohol Consumption

One of the main difficulties with avoiding alcohol is the way in which our brain is wired, making us want a drink whenever we’re in a situation in which we used to drink. Thanks to the pandemic, these situations are now more plentiful. Cannabis can help you by rewiring your brain, creating new connections that can help you stay distracted and stick to your goals.

Want more info? We recommend the following articles:

GOP Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Streamline Cannabis Research After DEA Shows Support For White House Plan

The newest breakthrough is a step towards allowing multiple researchers at a given institution to participate in a Schedule I drug study under a single DEA registration.

By Jelena Martinovic

As the long-standing dispute of whether marijuana has medical value continues to heat up, two Republican lawmakers introduced new legislation in the House and Senate poised to further streamline research of Schedule I drugs like marijuana and psilocybin, Marijuana Moment reports.

The move comes on the heels of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA) expressing support for a White House proposal to make the process of researching Schedule I drugs easier for scientists.

marijuana research
Photo by CasarsaGuru/Getty Images

The Biden Plan

The Biden administration’s plan, announced earlier, was to align the research requirements for Schedule I drugs with those of less-restricted Schedule II drugs.

The agencies testified at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing held earlier this month, when the DEA highlighted that “expanding access to Schedule I research is a critical part” of its “mission to protect public safety and health.”

RELATED: DEA Supports White House Plan To Streamline Research Of Psychedelics And Cannabis

However, on the federal level, Schedule I drugs are currently defined by the same agency as having “no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

Halt Fentanyl

Now, the two Republican lawmakers are taking it a step further with a newly introduced pice of legislation dubbed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act, which is set to limit trafficking of the powerful opioid.

The companion bills filed by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) would permanently place fentanyl analogs in the strictest federal drug category, even though the legislation also includes provisions to streamline the research process for all Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. Apart from cannabis, the strict category currently includes psychedelics like LSD, mescaline, and MDMA.

More Research, Please

The legislation “would recognize the danger of fentanyl-related substances by permanently scheduling them while also allowing researchers to study their effects,” Griffith said in a press release.

The newest breakthrough is a step towards allowing multiple researchers at a given institution to participate in a Schedule I drug study under a single DEA registration, instead of having each scientist obtain its own permit.

RELATED: Federal Foot-Dragging On Cannabis Rescheduling Hampers Vital Research, Harms Veterans And Millions More

Moreover, the lawmakers also proposed a policy change that would enable having only one overall registration for studies taking place over multiple locations, as well as allow researchers to proceed with their studies after submitting a notification to the Department of Justice without waiting for a green light from officials.

marijuana research
Photo by janiecbros/Getty Images

Griffith additionally stressed that the research component is important because “one of the things we’ve done in the past is we’ve put things on Schedule I, and then we’ve not researched it.”

RELATED: House Green Lights Researchers Accessing Marijuana From Dispensaries

And while Griffith thinks that “there may be potential” for the therapeutic use of fentanyl analogues, he emphasized that it “got to be done carefully.”

“It’s got to be done in the way that we’ve set it up so that we have the protections there,” he added. “But we may find something good as part of the research.”

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

Is Marijuana Powder A Game Changer For Edibles?

0

The most amazing aspect of this product is the fact that it gives the user the control to determine just how high they want to get.

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

Cannabis powder is not a new product; it has been around for more than five years. It’s only just getting its due recognition due to the new legislation here and there. Entrepreneurs along the West Coast have included powdered cannabis edibles in their stocks, and at the rate it’s been gobbled up, we could be in for a game-changer

Many people seem to believe cannabis powder is simply cannabis flowers that have been ground into fine dust. Instead, cannabis oils are used.

CBD oil
Photo by Anna Efetova/Getty Images

What Is Cannabis Powder?

This is a product made from cannabis oil. In any production process, the oil extract is mixed in the form of starch that is soluble in edibles and drinks. Cannabis powder is mixed into water, where it dissolves. Many people expect these products to sit on the surface of the liquid because it was made from oil extract, however, it doesn’t. When consumed, the user feels the effects of the powder in less than 30 minutes after use. The product is fast gaining popularity among medical marijuana patients due to its quick-acting effect.

Cannabis powder is more preferable because it is easier to use, and there is less risk compared to other delivery methods. Cannabis powder falls under the category of edibles.

How Edibles Used To Work

Edible cannabis companies have always produced edibles from oil tinctures and extracts. But, in the past, it was not done perfectly. The products usually failed to dissolve in the drinks fully. And because packaged products often had the wrong labels stating the number of cannabinoids within each bite, there was no exact way to know if one was taking too much or too little THC/CBD  than the labeling stated.

RELATED: Debunking 4 Common Myths About Edibles

With the creation of cannabis powder, many consumers have very little reason to stick with pre-infused snacks or drinks when they could just make their edibles with a pack of marijuana powder. This way, there is less risk of ingesting too much THC.

A study once tested about 50 different brands of pre-infused edibles to check if they were properly labeled with the right doses. Only 17% of those products passed the test. More than 50% contained lesser cannabinoids than what was stated, while the remaining few had more than what the package claims.

RELATED: Report: CBD Content On Labels Differs From Levels Found In Actual Products

It is wrong that one cannot buy pre-infused drinks without knowing the accurate contents of the products?

How Strong Is Marijuana Powder?

It is very strong! But luckily, you can take only what you can handle (in as much as you know your limit). First-time users are often advised to start with tiny doses and then move up the dosage once they’re sure they can handle it. The major benefit of this product is that the consumer can modify the contents to make it very strong or weak.

Based on individual production companies, the strength of a marijuana cannabis powder can vary from brand to brand. In a new market, you have to find a brand you’re comfortable with and stick with them. Many regular users claim that the powder product is not as effective as the cannabis oil extract, but it is as strong as or even stronger than cannabis flowers. Fortunately, you can dial up on the dose by adding a little more powder, and you can reduce it by using a smaller quantity. The ball is entirely in your court.

Why You Should Use Marijuana Powder In Your Edibles

There are many reasons why people are moving to marijuana powder and making it their main method of infusing cannabinoids into other edibles. Common edibles can take as long as 90 minutes to 2 hours for all the major cannabinoids to be broken down, digested, and affect the consumer. With marijuana powder, infused edibles are broken down and digested in less than 30 minutes. Their quick breakdown and effectiveness do not reduce the duration of the effects, and the user can feel the impact of the product for at least 4 hours.

weed brownies edibles
Photo by Sarah Pender/Getty Images

With cannabis powder, there are no telltale signs of the natural flavor of cannabis. The infused products do not smell like or taste like cannabis. It does little to affect the normal taste of the drink or edible itself. In pre-infused products, the natural flavor of cannabis is almost distinct, especially in products with very high dosages.

In addition to the listed advantages, the dissolving property of the cannabis powder is another upside. Regardless of how much you put in your meal or drink, its presence is undetectable. It does not create a film at the top of the drink, nor do they form sediments in the meal.

RELATED: How Do You Calculate THC Levels In Your Cannabis Edibles?

The immediate effect and longer impact duration are major reasons why cannabis powder is becoming more important to medical patients each day. They are assured better relief from their conditions in record time. Overall, cannabis powder is healthy and can be infused into almost everything, if not everything.

In the future, cannabis powder will likely be the most efficient and safest delivery method of cannabinoids into the body. Researchers are still working on creating the perfect marijuana powder to suit the needs of every consumer. As time progresses, you may want to pay attention to this niche, as many more benefits and uses for the products pop up. You definitely want to be on top of this situation.

Bottom Line

Cannabis powder is a potent product that is fast becoming a major part of the legal medical cannabis industry. However, it still needs more innovation to become that best form of edible with regards to purity and even cannabinoids distribution. Patients stand to gain the most from this product because it takes at most 20 minutes to produce the desired effect on the user.

The most amazing aspect of this product is the fact that it gives the user the control to determine just how high they want to get. If you hate smoking weed and you haven’t tried this product, then you’re missing out.

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

Ohio Garners 206K Signatures For Marijuana

Under the proposed bill, Ohio residents age 21 and older would be allowed to legally buy and own 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 15 grams of concentrates.

By Nina Zdinjak

Cannabis advocates from Ohio are pushing hard to make recreational marijuana legal in their state.

This week The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol confirmed it has collected 206,943 signatures for a bill that would allow adults to buy and own cannabis. The signatures have been submitted to Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Monday, reported The Columbus Dispatch.

Ohio House Dems File First-Ever Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Bill
Photo by traveler1116 / Getty Images

Months In The Works

The organization had already offered a draft of the measure in July this year and started collecting the needed 132,887 signatures in August.

“Eighteen states have already legalized cannabis for adult use, including our neighbor to the north,” campaign spokesman Tom Haren said. “Ohio is behind the curve on this issue and can’t afford continued inaction.”

What’s Next

Upon verifying the signatures, lawmakers have a four months deadline to proceed with the legislation. If they reject the bill or approve a changed version, supporters can collect another 132,887 signatures to place the measure on the ballot in the next election.

Back in 2015, Ohio voters rejected a ballot proposal aiming to create a limited legal market for the commercial production and sale of cannabis to adults. There were several provisions of that measure considered very controversial, like those that aimed to limit the number of licensed commercial cultivators to include only the initiative’s financial investors, writes NORML.

RELATED: Ohio Republicans File Cannabis Legalization Bill, Activists Prove No Errors In Their Petition

Under the proposed bill, Ohio residents age 21 and older would be allowed to legally buy and own 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 15 grams of concentrates. Furthermore, they would be able to cultivate up to six plants individually and no more than 12 in a household with several adults.

Products are proposed to be taxed at 10%, with revenue supporting administrative expenses, addiction treatment programs, municipalities with dispensaries and a social equity and jobs program. Furthermore, the state’s current licensed medical marijuana operators would be grandfathered into the adult-use market.

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

What To Do If You Test Positive For COVID

0

Monitor your symptoms and be on the lookout for chest pain, trouble breathing, and confusion, seeking medical help if any of these pop up.

The Omicron COVID-19 variant is the most dominant variant in the U.S, bringing the country back to a high number of cases, the likes of which we were experiencing a year ago. While there are vaccines in circulation, many will still test positive for the virus. What should you do?

Isolate as quickly as possible

Should You Wear Two Face Masks? Here's What Experts Think
Photo by Mika Baumeister via Unsplash

As soon as you get your results, it’s important to isolate yourself and stay away from other people. If you learn of your result while outside, be sure to put on a mask and go home as soon as you can.

If you live with roommates or family, you’d ideally want to have a room to yourself, where you limit your contact with others. To minimize spread, having someone bring your food to your door can help. Also, if there are several bathrooms, leaving one for the infected person is safest. People who enter the room should wear masks and open the room’s windows, allowing for airflow. When entering other rooms and common areas, make sure to wear a high-quality mask and for other people to wear masks as well.

Monitor your symptoms

Here's How Face Masks Work And Why You Should Use Them
Photo by Ross Sneddon via Unsplash

RELATED: Should You Get Your COVID-19 Booster If You’re Sick?

Monitor your symptoms and be on the lookout for chest pain, trouble breathing, and confusion, seeking medical help if any of these pop up. You could also buy a pulse oximeter, which monitors your oxygen levels. If your readings dip below 93%, you should seek medical help.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends staying isolated for 10 days, starting the count from 0 the day you start showing symptoms. Day 1 qualifies as the day after. On day 10, you should get a COVID-19 antigen test over a PCR, helping you confirm you’re not contagious. A PCR test could continue to come out positive for days or months following your recovery.

If there are no symptoms

Is It COVID-19 Or The Flu? Here Are Some Key Differences You Should Know
Photo by Winel Sutanto via Unsplash

If you don’t have symptoms of illness, you can go out for walks provided there’s space between yourself and others. Wear a mask and keep your distance for safe-keeping. You should still wait the 10 days suggested by the CDC and minimize your contact with other people, behaving as if you were symptomatic.

If you didn’t test positive but were exposed to someone with COVID-19

Here Are The Places COVID-19 Is Spreading Right Now
Photo by Dollar Gill via Unsplash

RELATED: Throughout The Pandemic, This Health Risk Has Been Rising In Americans

You should get tested 5 or 7 days after your exposure and wear a face mask in indoor settings as you wait for your results.

President Biden Comes Under Pressure From All Sides Over His Cannabis Legalization Stance

Biden remains either silent or negative in the face of his inaction on the topic of cannabis legalization, which is supported by nearly three-quarters of the U.S. adult population.

By Nicolas Jose Rodriguez

Adding to the chorus of lawmakers pressuring President Joe Biden on cannabis legalization, on Monday Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) urged the President via Twitter to take unilateral action on cannabis policy.

“Biden needs to lean on his executive authority now. He has been delaying and underutilizing it so far,” AOC tweeted “There is an enormous amount he can do on climate, student debt, immigration, cannabis, health care, and more. Time is running out—we need to move and use alternative paths.” The congresswoman was among the first to suggest that Biden use executive authority to advance marijuana reform.


Prior to Ocasio-Cortez’s plea, not her first, Republican lawmakers Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Don Young (R-AK), both co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, sent a letter to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris recently urging the administration to reschedule cannabis under federal law.

joe biden kamala harris
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

“As both legislative chambers continue to debate the merits of various common-sense proposals on the issue of cannabis reform and a complete end to federal prohibition garners more and more bipartisan support, your administration’s absence from these debates and lack of action, which is inconsistent with previous statements you have made on the topic, is of serious concern,” the lawmakers wrote. In addition, they noted that further, cannabis’ Schedule I classification “puts the U.S. far behind many of our international partners and scientific competitors.”

RELATED: GOP Lawmakers Call On Biden And Harris To End Silence On Cannabis Legalization

That same day, during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing for Biden’s nominee to serve as director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) spoke about the inconsistency of marijuana driving policies in states across the U.S and asked for federal marijuana standards to measure impaired driving, reported Marijuana Moment.

“We first legalized recreational marijuana in Colorado, which I opposed in the beginning,” Hickenlooper said. “I thought there would be all kinds of increases in teenage driving, teenage consumption, frequency of use. We haven’t seen any of that (but we do recognize that we don’t have a good way to measure intoxication level),” he added.

RELATED: Can The Biden Administration Deschedule Cannabis?

Hickenlooper noted that NHTSA has not released an updated report on cannabis and driving since 2017, and asked Biden’s nominee Steven Cliff if he would commit to “develop a federal marijuana-impaired driving standard so that we can have something as a national standard.”

Regardless of pressure from his own and pleas from across the aisle, President Biden remains either silent or negative in the face of his inaction on the topic of cannabis legalization, which is supported by nearly three-quarters of the U.S. adult population.

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

Here’s Why Women Are Using Cannabis During Pregnancy

0

A new study found that women used cannabis to deal with one pregnancy symptom in particular.

Women have been increasingly using cannabis throughout their pregnancies. This change, likely prompted by an evolving perception of the drug, has many experts concerned since the side effects of cannabis haven’t been all that studied, particularly applied to pregnant people.

According to a new study, pregnant people use cannabis to treat a variety of symptoms, primarily morning sickness.

The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, interviewed 52 pregnant people who had experience with cannabis before their pregnancy. (The term “cannabis” in this study refers to a variety of cannabis products, from smoking flower to consuming cannabis edibles.)

Pregnant Women With Depressions 3 Times As Likely to use Marijuana
Photo by Camylla Battani via Unsplash

Thirty research subjects continued to use cannabis during their pregnancy, using it to manage a myriad of side effects. But the one they brought up the most was morning sickness, calling cannabis the most effective way of mitigating it.

Researchers say that most of the people who were interviewed were well informed on the topic of cannabis and weren’t simply using it as a way to have fun. These people considered their options and concluded that cannabis was the most natural and least invasive form of treating their symptoms. Still, the majority of researchers don’t agree with these statements.

RELATED: After Baby And Beyond: How CBD And Marijuana Can Help Moms

Experts advise against the use of cannabis while pregnant and breastfeeding, principally because the drug is understudied and there are a lot of questions that remain. While there have been no direct links discovered, some studies have found connections between cannabis and a variety of harmful side effects in children, including low weight at birth and the development of learning and attention problems in later years.

rolling a cannabis joint
Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels

More research is needed in order to provide an answer to those who are pregnant. While cannabis is not the fearful drug that many painted it out to be in years past, it’s still a drug with unknown side effects that could impact young children. It’s important to have an open discussion with medical practitioners, who’ll suggest alternative methods of coping with the side effects of pregnancy.

RELATED: Does Prenatal Cannabis Use Make Angry Babies? Debunking Latest Medical Study

When it comes to health care practitioners, they should be aware that cannabis is growing more and more popular. They should ask their patients directly whether or not they use it, and provide a nonjudgmental alternative that can help them manage their pregnancy symptoms.

Don't Miss Your Weekly Dose of The Fresh Toast.

Stay informed with exclusive news briefs delivered directly to your inbox every Friday.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.