White House Drug Czar Signals Possibility Of Safe Consumption Sites To Address Drug Overdose Crisis

-

December 10, 2021

White House Drug Czar Signals Possibility Of Safe Consumption Sites To Address Drug Overdose Crisis

Compared to other countries, overdose death rates in the U.S. are three to four times higher. The CDC recently confirmed an estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths during the 12-month period ending in April 2021, an increase of 28.5% from the same period the year before. This alarming increase is compelling federal health officials to be more open to new ideas and suggestions on how to deal with the crisis.

About a month-and-half after the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra revealed the Biden administration’s strategy to deal with the epidemic could include allowing supervised consumption sites, White House drug czar Rahul Gupta told CNN it is critical to consider “any and every option” to address the crisis.

illegal drugs — Photo by Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) confirmed that could include allowing safe injection sites for illicit substances, only if evidence backs their efficacy, reported Marijuana Moment.

These sites already exist in Canada and Europe and are often considered a helpful tool in saving many thousands of lives of people who would otherwise have accidentally overdosed. Those who oppose them claim the facilities encourage drug use.

New York City First In Nation To Try This

Just this month, New York City became the first in the nation to open two overdose prevention centers (OPC) where people can use illicit drugs and receive medical care and services.

When asked whether he supports New York’s historic move Gupta replied: “I would be interested in looking at the science and data behind all of the emerging harm reduction practices. We want to learn and we want to make sure that every possible door that we can open up to help people connect them to treatment is available to us.”

Gupta continued, “if you’re looking to save lives, and you’ve reached a historic precedent level of deaths, you cannot avoid looking at any and every option in order to save those lives.”

Rahul Gupta (R), Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images

Previously the drug czar could not discuss harm reduction centers because of ongoing litigation connected to a Philadelphia nonprofit that faced legal difficulty for trying to open such a center.

“We are seeing a crisis for which harm reduction is going to have to be one of the very important tools in our toolbox and for that very reason that this administration has made harm reduction for the first time part of its federal policy,” Gupta noted.

Prior to assuming the post of drug czar, Gupta, a medical doctor, held an important role in managing the implementation and development of West Virginia’s medical marijuana program. Now, his comments provide hope for a possible shift in the standard overdose crisis problem approach.

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

Marijuana Etiquette Tips To Keep In Mind

Maria Loreto

-

December 10, 2021

0

Marijuana Etiquette Tips To Keep In Mind

Marijuana works best when done as a communal activity. Here are some basic guidelines to follow if you’re interested in getting invited to these kinds of things.

Marijuana is usually a communal activity, at least when you’re first starting off. While seasoned cannabis users tend to smoke cannabis on their own, there’s always that moment of having cannabis with your friends, making the activity extra special and something people can bond over. But you have to read the rooms, so here are some marijuana etiquette tips to keep in mind.

While natural and organic, there are still some guidelines to follow. Once you know them, it’s pretty easy to become a good smoking buddy, and the type of person people want around once joints get passed around. You don’t want to be that person in the group who hogs all of the weed or worse, burns it.

If you bring edibles, explain what’s in them

7 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Marijuana Edibles — Photo by Sincerely Media via Unsplash

If you’re hosting a party and have prepared some edibles, it’s part of your hosting duties to explain to everyone what’s in them in terms of dosage. You don’t have to get too specific, just mention if they’re strong, or they’re light, or, if you haven’t tried them, to explain just that. It’s also important to make it clear that there’s weed in them by labeling them, preventing others from getting high unexpectedly.

Do corner the bowl

How Often Should You Change Your Bong Water? — Photo by vladans/Getty Images

Cornering the bowl is the practice of lighting the edge of it in order to avoid burning the middle of it and thus ruining everyone’s experience. By cornering the bowl you’ll ensure the person who smokes after you also gets a patch of green marijuana, which has better taste and will result in a better time.

Don’t ask the delivery person to stay

4 Ways Cannabis Can Improve Your Holidays — Photo by fauxels via pexels

Getting weed delivered? Or maybe even your food? No matter how cool your delivery guy or girl looks like, they’re doing their job, and you’re putting them in an awkward place by asking them to stick around and join you and your friends. Don’t ask someone on the clock to stay for a session because you want companionship.

Don’t hog the joint

marijuana cannabis joint — Photo by Cavan Images/Getty Images

When sharing a joint with a group of people, don’t take it and start talking about your recent heartbreak. Use the moments when you’re not holding it to talk to others and to go on a marijuana-induced monologue regarding the universe and the stars. As a general rule, you should take two or three drags before you pass it around, enjoying yourself but also sharing, because that’s the nice thing to do.

Don’t throw away the joint without asking

rolling a marijuana joint — Photo by FilippoBacci/Getty Images

While you may think the joint is done when it starts to feel a little warm in between your fingertips, others might disagree. Before you stub it out, ask around if anyone else wants a list hit.

Take this opportunity to communicate

Take advantage of the fact that you’re smoking marijuana in a social setting, and use it to talk about random things and laugh. Don’t be embarrassed over how other people are perceiving you, something that cannabis often does. Just focus on having a good time.

CBD Reduces The Symptoms Of Schizophrenia According To New Medical Studies

Terry Hacienda

-

December 10, 2021

0

CBD Reduces The Symptoms Of Schizophrenia According To New Medical Studies

This non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant has been shown in studies to effectively mitigate a number of symptoms of the disorder.

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

With over 20 million people around the world struggling with schizophrenia, this often undiscussed but serious mental health condition is an issue that should be addressed.

Individuals with schizophrenia need to be on medication for the rest of their lives in order to manage its symptoms which can be debilitating, disabling, and affect daily functioning. The symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, negative symptoms, disorganized or irrational motor behavior, and more. These can cause people to struggle with motivation, sleeping, work performance, and have issues with social situations.

woman looking at the floor — Photo by Tiago Bandeira via Unsplash

When it gets bad, schizophrenia can even cause suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

Antipsychotic medications are usually prescribed in order to taper its symptoms. However, these medications have a long list of side effects: dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, drowsiness, dizziness, sun sensitivity, menstrual problems, rashes, and more.

How CBD Helps

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been shown to be a beneficial alternative treatment for people with schizophrenia.

This non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant has been shown in studies to effectively mitigate a number of symptoms. The very first study to be conducted analyzing the effect of CBD on schizophrenia occurred in 1995, involving a 19 year old girl who was given 1,500mg of CBD each day for 4 weeks. The researchers found that there was an improvement in her psychotic symptoms.

One of the latest studies in 2021 showed that CBD is beneficial in improving cognition. The study involved 42 patients with schizophrenia, and they were either treated with an antipsychotic medicine called amisulpride, or CBD. While both treatments improved cognition among the study’s participants, CBD of course had resulted in less side effects.

Additionally, there is some promising evidence that CBD, even just one dose, can already treat psychosis. A study from 2020 reveals that it’s helpful in addressing the memory problems that are linked to psychosis. It involved the use of fMRI scans to analyze the brain activity of 13 individuals who were diagnosed with psychosis and how they reacted to one dose of CBD or placebo, plus 16 controls while being asked to do a memory task.

The researchers discovered that activity patterns in the mediotemporal and prefrontal parts of the brain differed among those who took the placebo and compared them to those who didn’t have a psychosis diagnosis. But when those with psychosis were administered one dose of CBD, the activity in these brain areas were similar to the activity in the brains of people who don’t have psychosis, while doing the same tasks.

Can Cannabis Be Used To Manage Anxiety? — Photo by rawpixel.com

“Our study provides important insight into which areas of the brain CBD targets. It is the first time research has scanned the brains of people with a diagnosis of psychosis who have taken CBD and, although the sample is small, the results are compelling in that they demonstrate that CBD influences those very areas of the brain that have been shown to have unusual activity in people with psychosis,” says Sagnik Bhattacharyya, the study’s lead author.

“Now not only do we know that CBD works as an antipsychotic, we know it targets the areas of the brain that need to be targeted. This really gives us confidence, and it gives us scientific justification for large scale clinical trials,” Bhattacharyya told Inverse.

“This study provides important insight into the brain mechanisms behind the antipsychotic effects of CBD,” he says. “It gives confidence in the antipsychotic potential of CBD by demonstrating that it targets the function of brain regions implicated in psychosis and indicating that even a single dose may ameliorate some of the brain function alterations that may underlie psychosis.”

“The finding that psychotic symptoms may show a trend toward improvement in this group even after one dose of CBD is encouraging, however, requires a larger scale clinical trial to investigate if the effects would continue with longer term treatment,” Bhattacharyya adds.

“The results form an important part of the picture that scientific research is building on the effects of CBD and will help support the case for further clinical trials on the use of CBD in different stages of psychosis as well as other neuropsychiatric diseases such as Parkinson’s disease where a proportion of patients may also experience psychotic symptoms.”

What To Know If You Want to Use CBD to Treat Schizophrenia

While there are studies proving that CBD is beneficial for schizophrenia, it is never recommended first and foremost to skip your usual medications and use CBD without consulting your doctor. And when shopping around for CBD treatment, avoid buying online if you aren’t sure of the brand name; keep in mind that most studies tend to use pure CBD and higher doses of it.

In addition, CBD can also have undesirable interactions with antipsychotic medications, so it’s never recommended to combine them nor with other types of medications.

Last but not least, some CBD products may contain THC, which has been shown to worsen the effects of schizophrenia. It could be tempting to self-medicate, but this is something that you should never do when battling a serious condition like schizophrenia. Always ask for the guidance of your physician first.

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

Reasons Why You Should Invest In A Weed Grinder

Cannabis

Maria Loreto

-

December 9, 2021

0

Reasons Why You Should Invest In A Weed Grinder

Grinders aren’t necessary to smoke weed, but they still make for a better and more reliable experience.

Flower is amongst the most malleable forms of cannabis. Once it’s cut in small pieces, it can be added onto the method of your choice, whether that’s a bong or a recipe for a delicious edible. And while you need little more than some weed, rolling paper and a lighter, the more you smoke, the more you’re likely to see how there are dozens of ways of improving upon your cannabis experience. So here are 5 reason why you should invest in a weed grinder.

Grinders are necessary tools, even if they’re ignored by amateur marijuana consumers. People can split their weed into functioning chunks by using scissors, their fingers, a quarter, and more. While all of these methods get the job done, the end result, whether it’s in a joint, a bong, or an edible, is not the same. Here are 5 reasons why you should invest in a good grinder.

They can prevent weedy flavor

weed brownies edibles — Photo by Sarah Pender/Getty Images

When making edibles and using joints, bongs, pipes, a grinder can prevent strong and harsh flavors. When cannabis is ground roughly, the marijuana pieces might burn unevenly since these chunky pieces don’t allow for a good flow of oxygen. In the case of edibles, the pieces of marijuana might also clump together and result in a weedy and unpleasant flavor.

They preserve the weed’s integrity

4 Easy Ways To Grind Your Marijuana Without A Grinder — Photo by saeedkebriya via Pixabay

Marijuana grinders, even after years of use, when some wear and tear has set in, are capable of chopping weed evenly. They create a fluffy and thick powder that’s easy to carry and handle. These devices limit the amount of times you touch the weed with your hands, a process that contaminates the weed and robs it of its trichomes, which are the particles responsible for providing marijuana with its aroma, flavor and therapeutic benefits.

Grinders make for more pleasant highs

Here's Why Smoking Weed Makes Your Eyes Red — Photo by Artem Xromov via Unsplash

While there are problems that come out of over-grinding weed, the majority of times the use of a grinder will result in more pleasant, manageable, and even highs. When marijuana is properly cut, it allows for some airflow, which in turn allows for the marijuana to burn evenly and for hits and edibles to contain similar doses.

No kief is lost

Most common grinders also have a bottom compartment, where the “kief” is stored. This powder contains a bunch of cannabinoids (mainly THC) that can be repurposed for extra-strong joints, for preparing hash, and more. Want more info? Check out: Marijuana Basics: What Is Kief And What To Do With It

Grinders are cost-effective

cannabis grinder — Photo by Esteban Lopez via Unsplash

While a good grinder can cost over $100, with different compartments that grind, separate pollen, and leave you with super clean weed, there are also cheaper options that get the job done. All decent grinders ensure that the amount of money you spend on weed doesn’t go to waste once it’s poorly cut.

Grinders make for a better cannabis experience, reducing mess and making it easier to clean up. They make the most out of your weed and we can’t recommend them enough.

These Cannabis-Growing ‘Nuns’ Are Back On Etsy After Being Kicked Off

Benzinga Staff Writer

-

December 9, 2021

0

These Cannabis-Growing ‘Nuns’ Are Back On Etsy After Being Kicked Off

In the nearly five years since the Etsy closure, the Sisters jumped from one platform to the next. As their sales grew, the rates and services they received improved.

By Javier Hasse

The cannabis growing “nuns,” Sisters of the Valley, are back on Etsy.

After five years off the platform, being reunited feels so good, the Sisters joke. “When Etsy rudely shut down our store in March of 2016, we thought for sure we were going to go under,” says Sister Kate.

Nothing Personal

At first, it felt personal. After a fruitful 15-month relationship with the online retailer, which was driving more than $30,000 in monthly sales, being shut down overnight was a tough blow. However, the Sisters quickly learned that many other shopping platforms and credit card payment platforms around the world had also suddenly stopped serving the hemp industry in March of 2016.

Determined to move forward, the Sisters recruited university students to help them build a new online store. Sister Kate found a new credit card provider and they were back in business four days later.

In fact, the Sisters now say that Etsy was “very good” to them during the transition, despite the circumstances, allowing the women to continue to communicate with their only customer base for a reasonable period thereafter.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sisters of the Valley (@sistersofthevalley)

Shopping Around

In the nearly five years since the Etsy closure, the Sisters jumped from one platform to the next. As their sales grew, the rates and services they received improved.

International sales started to spike as well, representing 20% of their total revenue and getting to a point where UPS started to court them so they’d switch their international shipments from the US post office to UPS, the team shared.

But the experience with UPS was far from ideal. The company would return packages and question the nature of the shipments.

COVID would make things even harder. With international shipments coming almost to a halt, their offshore sales dropped from 20% to 4%. And, when it seemed it couldn’t get any worse, it did.

A few weeks ago, Square Inc., the Sister’s credit card processor, told them they were no longer allowed to sell or ship CBD products into China, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iran, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, United Arab Emirates and India.

Another hard knock to international sales.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sisters of the Valley (@sistersofthevalley)

In response to this move, the Sisters returned to Etsy, opening a store that ships worldwide. They have come full circle.

When Etsy shut down the Sisters’ shop nearly five years ago, the team had only a small line of CBD products. Today, they have a wide range of products, many of which have no CBD and therefore, should not be subject to international shipping restrictions.

The sisters will now operate two stores as they pivot from the new restrictions. They will continue to sell their CBD products domestically and to all the countries they can via their sistersofthevalley.org store while fulfilling a slightly modified product line on Etsy.

Some products will be available from one store and some products from another, based on the fluctuating laws. And this is the dance the Sisters will move to in order to keep their doors open during these tough economic times and harsh regulatory changes.

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

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

Maria Loreto

-

December 9, 2021

0

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

The pandemic has resulted in a lot of health risks, whether they originated from the disease itself or by living through this stressful time.

COVID-19 has affected all of us, from the ones who caught the disease, to others who’ve managed to avoid it, but who have witnessed it nonetheless. In fact, according to scientists, the rate of one specific health issue in the U.S. has risen significantly since the start of the pandemic.

Published in the journal Circulation, a new study found that Americans’ blood pressure had risen during the pandemic when compared to data compiled during the three previous years.

Cumulative Use of Cannabis Not Associated with Heart Abnormalities at Middle Age — Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

Researchers examined data from over 460,000 people from all over the country, with an average age of 45.7 years, and the majority (53%) being women. The study found that during the months of April and December 2020, blood pressure increased significantly, particularly in women.

While the changes in blood pressure were minimal, researchers are still concerned, since a small change can have a big impact when it comes to our circulation. Prevention spoke with Luke Laffin, M.D., lead researcher of the study, who explained why it was important to keep track of your own blood pressure. “Even small changes in average blood pressure in the United States population can translate in significant increases in heart attacks, heart failure, and more down the line,” he said.

High blood pressure has been correlated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including strokes and heart attacks. In order to prevent these, it’s important to take care of your health by adhering to an active lifestyle, keeping an eye on the foods you eat, and knowing your blood pressure, thus keeping an eye on its fluctuations.

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

Researchers theorize that these changes are due to the stressors of the pandemic, particularly during the time when there were strict restrictions against the virus, causing people to stop their workout classes, gym visits, and eating different types of foods. Then there’s also the emotional toll of the pandemic, with feelings like anxiety and uncertainty affecting people’s blood pressure.

How Much Of A Sales Spike Will The Cannabis Industry Get This Holiday Season?

Cannabusiness

Benzinga Staff Writer

-

December 9, 2021

0

How Much Of A Sales Spike Will The Cannabis Industry Get This Holiday Season?

Not every part of the industry sees business heat up during the holiday season. For some, like those in cultivation and packaging, it marks a wind-down on work and profits.

By Andrew Ward

The holiday season is underway and so too are sales. The cannabis industry is no exception, with December sales expected to be strong once again.

Data firm LeafLink reports that sales jumped 33% the week leading up to Christmas 2020 (December 21-December 24) compared to the previous four weeks. Christmas Eve saw a 61% increase compared to the previous four Thursdays.

cannabis gifts — Photo by megaflopp/Getty Images

“December is a massive sales month for cannabis, with sales figures in the company of other big cannabis spending days including 4/20, Green Wednesday, and Black Friday,” said Akerna Corp CEO Jessica Billingsley, who added that December 23 and December 31 were two of the top three sales days for 2020, respectively earning $87.4 million and $89.4 million.

“While I don’t see any December holiday beating 4/20 this year, which was the largest sales day for the industry ever at $118 million, I do expect to see a couple of December days make the top 5 of the year,” she added.

A Strong December Expected As Green Wednesday Gains

History shows that 2021 should produce another strong performance for the market. If November’s Green Wednesday sales are any indication, the market could be bracing for another massive bump in sales as the gift-giving dates approach.

The early days of the month haven’t revealed much in the way of findings yet. However, returns from the Green Wednesday 2021 sales indicate that consumer demand continues to surge. LeafLink reported that sales through its site increased 10.61% in November leading up to Green Wednesday.

Cannabis delivery platform Lantern reported record days on Monday, Tuesday and Green Wednesday, noting a 44% daily increase across Michigan, Massachusetts and Colorado on Green Wednesday compared to previous days.

California-based Glass House Brands Inc. saw a 41% sales increase across its four locations compared to the previous Green Wednesday. Jushi Holdings Inc. and its retail brand Beyond/Hello saw a 120% increase on Green Wednesday compared to the year prior.

A rep for Ohio dispensary chain Terrasana told Benzinga that December is projected to be the company’s highest-grossing month for the year.

Expectations rose after the company increased revenue by 23% and transactions by 33% in November 2021 compared to the year prior.

eCommerce retailers expect sales to boom in December as well. Tyler Browne, owner of California-based online retailer To the Cloud Vapor Store said Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales traffic spikes kick off the December shopping season.

He added that December sales should be good for the entire marketplace, especially those looking to start new in 2022. “This also serves as a time for retailers to liquidate inventory ahead of the new year.”

Most sources say that while the holiday season has several shopping days that come close to 4/20 sales figures, nothing truly compares. Overall, however, the month of December does prove more lucrative for retailers like Browne.

“While sales are great in April for 4/20, cannabis is becoming mainstream and 4/20 is losing its esteem when every day is 4/20 for most,” he said.

Holidays Aren’t The Busy Season For Every Cannabis Sector

Not every part of the industry sees business heat up during the holiday season. For some, like those in cultivation and packaging, it marks a wind-down on work and profits.

April’s harvest marks a busy time for cultivators, as does October when the new cultivars start to roll out. Once harvested, companies like Grove Bags are tasked with handling the product.

Jeffrey Eisenstodt, Grove’s chief of staff, told Benzinga their busy season begins in the early summer, peaking in September or October. While excited for consumers during the holidays, he said the season marks a downturn in packaging demands.

“While the holiday season is a boom for cannabis purchasing, it marks the end of harvest season and brings about less packaging spending,” he said.

Eisenstodt added, “Ensuring inventory, preparing marketing, and other activities are time-consuming for operators in cannabis, and they consume the majority of their energy during the period.”

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

What Can Cannabis Legalization Tell Us About Psychedelics?

Marijuana Legislation

Daniel Shortt

-

December 9, 2021

0

What Can Cannabis Legalization Tell Us About Psychedelics?

The fact the psychedelics legalization movement is similar in many ways to the cannabis movement does not mean that it will or should follow the same course towards legalization.

This article originally appeared on Green Light Law Group and has been reposted with permission.

In both the well-established cannabis industry and the emergent psychedelics space, federal law has fallen behind public sentiment. Marijuana, LSD, Mescaline (contained in Peyote), MDMA, Psilocybin (from “magic mushrooms”) are all listed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and are all major topics of interest of late, according to Bloomberg.

In addition, states have taken the legality of these substances in their own hands, legalizing medical and adult-use cannabis and legalizing or decriminalizing certain psychedelics or entheogens. However, the fact that most entheogens and cannabis have been stuck in Schedule I of the CSA means that the US is behind on researching these mind-altering substances.

The cannabis legalization movement has been in the works for decades, and it does seem that federal cannabis prohibition will end soon. The current push to legalize psychedelics is in its early stages. This post examines what cannabis legalization can tell us about psychedelics.

U.S Cannabis Legalization Timeline

Despite some similarities, psychedelic legalization is playing out differently than cannabis legalization, at least in terms of timing. The modern movement to legalize cannabis can trace its first great success to California in 1996, when the state became the first in the nation to legalize medical cannabis. Several states followed suit, including Oregon in 1998. And finally, in 2012, Washington and Colorado voters decided to legalize adult-use, or, recreational cannabis.

Slowly, over time, public opinion on cannabis has changed significantly. Now a majority of Americans are in favor of legalizing marijuana nationally. As the cannabis industry has developed, the focus has shifted from legalizing medical marijuana to legalizing marijuana for both medical and recreational cannabis.

Alternatively, public support has come quickly for the psychedelic movement. Oregon was the first state to establish a regulated entheogen back in 2020. While it took years for public support to tip in favor of cannabis, just months after Oregon legalized psilocybin (and years before the program is actually operational) a report from The Hill indicates that more than a third of voters in America already believe that psychedelic substances, such as “magic mushrooms” have medical value.

It took much longer for support to grow for the legalization of cannabis. Bipartisan support for psychedelic treatment is also developing rapidly, with former Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) supporting legislation allowing for clinical research of psilocybin to help veterans suffering from PTSD.

Psychedelics in the Pharmaceutical Space

Big money is flooding the psychedelics space much faster than the cannabis market, as well. According to Psychedelic Stock Watch by early 2021, nearly $540 million had been poured into psychedelic companies. As another article on Psychedelic Stock Watch points out, “unlike cannabis, most psychedelic drugs are much more amenable to a drug patent system. Translation: much more robust profit potential for pharmaceutical companies in comparison to cannabis.” While there is certainly “big money” in cannabis, especially investments in multi-state operators (MSOs), money has flown much more quickly to firms focused on psychedelics.

At this time, it seems unlikely that psychedelics legalization will eventually allow for the non-medical or recreational use of psychedelics. This distinguishes psychedelics from cannabis in the sense that many states are legalizing cannabis for recreational, non-medical use. Simply put, psychedelics are stronger than cannabis and may not be safe for recreational use. Because psychedelics are better for patent purposes, there is also more incentives for the development of pharmaceutical psychedelics.

Priorities of the Psychedelic Industry: Spiritualism or Commerce?

However, there are other avenues that policy makers should explore in legalizing psychedelics. For thousands of years, human have used psychedelics for spiritual or religious purposes. Many entheogens are considered sacramental. In the United States, most of the discussion around cannabis has focused on the difference between recreational and medical use or the difference between marijuana and hemp. In contrast, in Jamaica, cannabis legalization has not just impacted medical and recreational cannabis, it has also legalized the sacramental use of cannabis, or ganja, in the Rastafarian tradition.

I am hopeful that as states and the federal government begin legalizing and regulating psychedelics, there is a place in the industry reserved for traditional, spiritual use, as is the case with ganja in Jamaica. Although legalization of psychedelics has been pushed rapidly by commercial interests, that does not preclude the use of psychedelic for non-commercial purposes.

Recreational Cannabis vs Recreational Psychedelics

The fact the psychedelics legalization movement is similar in many ways to the cannabis movement does not mean that it will or should follow the same course towards legalization. In many ways, the legalization of cannabis at the state level has laid the groundwork for the rapidly evolving psychedelic movement, but that does not mean that we should expect to see a push for recreational psychedelics down the road. Advocates for psychedelic legalization should learn from the cannabis movement but should not attempt to recreate the exact trajectory towards legalization as what makes sense for cannabis may not make sense for psychedelics.

Daniel Shortt is a corporate and regulatory attorney based in Seattle, Washington who works extensively with entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry. You can contact him at info@gl-lg.com or (206) 430-1336.

This article originally appeared on Green Light Law Group and has been reposted with permission.

The World’s Biggest Cannabis Brownie

Benzinga Staff Writer

-

December 8, 2021

0

Guinness World Records, however, no longer accepts applications or creates new record titles that are related to the consumption, preparation or use of tobacco, cannabis or nicotine products.

By Javier Hasse

Many have tried, most have failed, According to Guinness World Records, the largest was created in 2013 and weighed 243 pounds. However, there’s a new contender in town. And this one will get you high. The world’s biggest cannabis brownie unveiled for national brownie day.

On Wednesday, in time for National Brownie Day, MariMed Inc. unveiled an 850-pound cannabis-infused brownie featuring 20,000 mg of THC. To make the 400 square foot brownie, MariMed’s kitchen engineers used 450 pounds of sugar, 212 pounds of butter and more than 1300 eggs. It’s 3 feet wide by 3 feet long and 15 inches tall. But why the fuss? Turns out, MariMed is also celebrating the launch of a new brand: Bubby’s Baked.

Let’s Get Baked

Inspired by the original, homemade canna-brownie, every delicious, soft and chewy Bubby’s bite is made in small batches and infused with precision-dosed, full-spectrum cannabis.

The bites are perfect for sharing with friends or eating alone and come in three classic confectionery recipes: brownie, chocolate chip, and snickerdoodle.

The line is available throughout Massachusetts and is expected to hit dispensary shelves in Delaware and Maryland early next year.

“Bubby’s Baked fills a big hole in the edibles market that cannabis consumers crave – high-quality, delicious baked goods that stay moist and chewy,” said MariMed chief product officer and SVP of sales Ryan Crandall. “For many of us, homemade brownies were our first taste of cannabis-infused edibles. Bubby’s recreates and elevates that nostalgic experience, infusing full-spectrum, craft-quality cannabis into timeless recipes, for a reliable high reminiscent of simpler times. Strategically, Bubby’s is part of our effort at MariMed to build a house of brands that meets different consumer needs across a diverse range of occasions.”

Bubby’s edibles were previously piloted in Massachusetts under the name “Bourne Baking Co.”

A bit of added controversy: MariMed applied for the Guinness World Record for the largest edible brownie. The organization, however, replied that “Guinness World Records no longer accepts applications or creates new record titles that are related to the consumption, preparation or use of tobacco, cannabis or nicotine products.”

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

Recent Cannabis Use Linked To Extremes In Nightly Sleep Patterns And Duration

Benzinga Staff Writer

-

December 8, 2021

0

Recent Cannabis Use Linked To Extremes In Nightly Sleep Patterns And Duration

From a sample representing approximately 146 million adults in the U.S., 14.5% reported recent cannabis use — which was not associated with frequent daytime sleepiness.

By Nicolas Jose Rodriguez

Recent cannabis use is linked to extremes of nightly sleep duration—less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours—reveals a study of a large representative sample of US adults, published online in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. This pattern was even more pronounced among heavy users, reported neurosciencenews.com

While popularly consumed for its perceived benefits as a sleeping aid, the impact of cannabis on sleep-wake regulation in clinical studies is inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between cannabis use and nightly sleep duration in a nationally representative dataset.

This Sleep Disorder Has Been Associated With Depression — Photo by Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash

The cross-sectional analysis of adults was undertaken using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2005 to 2018.

Respondents were classified as recent users or non-users if they had used or not used cannabis in the past 30 days, respectively. Sleep duration was defined as short (less than 6 hours), optimal (6–9 hours), and long (more than 9 hours).

From a sample representing approximately 146 million adults in the U.S., 14.5% reported recent cannabis use. And recent cannabis use was not associated with frequent daytime sleepiness.

According to the study, recent users were more likely than non-users to report both short sleep and long sleep. Defined as consuming cannabis on 20 or more out of the preceding 30 days, heavy users were 64% more prone to experience short sleep and 76% more likely to experience long sleep compared with non-users.

Heavy users, thought to be at the extremes of nightly sleep duration, were 34% reported short sleep and 56% were more likely to report long sleep than those who hadn’t used cannabis in the preceding 30 days. Furthermore, they were 31% more inclined to report difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much in the preceding 2 weeks.

Moderate users, defined as using marijuana fewer than 20 of the past 30 days, were 47% more likely to sleep 9 or more hours a night compared with non-users.

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

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

New York City First In Nation To Try This

Marijuana works best when done as a communal activity. Here are some basic guidelines to follow if you’re interested in getting invited to these kinds of things.

If you bring edibles, explain what’s in them

Do corner the bowl

Don’t ask the delivery person to stay

Don’t hog the joint

Don’t throw away the joint without asking

Take this opportunity to communicate

This non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant has been shown in studies to effectively mitigate a number of symptoms of the disorder.

How CBD Helps

What To Know If You Want to Use CBD to Treat Schizophrenia

Grinders aren’t necessary to smoke weed, but they still make for a better and more reliable experience.

They can prevent weedy flavor

They preserve the weed’s integrity

Grinders make for more pleasant highs

No kief is lost

Grinders are cost-effective

In the nearly five years since the Etsy closure, the Sisters jumped from one platform to the next. As their sales grew, the rates and services they received improved.

Nothing Personal

Shopping Around

The pandemic has resulted in a lot of health risks, whether they originated from the disease itself or by living through this stressful time.

Not every part of the industry sees business heat up during the holiday season. For some, like those in cultivation and packaging, it marks a wind-down on work and profits.

A Strong December Expected As Green Wednesday Gains

Holidays Aren’t The Busy Season For Every Cannabis Sector

The fact the psychedelics legalization movement is similar in many ways to the cannabis movement does not mean that it will or should follow the same course towards legalization.

U.S Cannabis Legalization Timeline

Psychedelics in the Pharmaceutical Space

Priorities of the Psychedelic Industry: Spiritualism or Commerce?

Recreational Cannabis vs Recreational Psychedelics

Guinness World Records, however, no longer accepts applications or creates new record titles that are related to the consumption, preparation or use of tobacco, cannabis or nicotine products.

Let’s Get Baked

From a sample representing approximately 146 million adults in the U.S., 14.5% reported recent cannabis use — which was not associated with frequent daytime sleepiness.

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