A new study shows how consumers integrate cannabis into their lives. Research undertaken by the San Francisco-based cannabis delivery platform Eaze found an increasing crossover between cannabis use and off-the-couch activities including work, fitness and intimacy, reported Adweek.
“It may sound counterintuitive, but cannabis for responsible adults does exist,” said Elizabeth Ashford, vice president of communications at Eaze.
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“We’re seeing the integration of cannabis into parts of life where we previously didn’t see it. It’s not about waking up and hitting a bong,” Ashford told Adweek. “Some people may take a 2-milligram Sativa edible like someone else would drink espresso in the morning.”
The study, which included 1,100 Eaze customers, found the following:
43% of users polled said they microdose cannabis prior to clocking in to their jobs (40% have full-time employment);
36% reported that “productive” is their favorite kind of high;
22% use cannabis for stress and mental health;
17% cited “fun” as their primary motivation to use cannabis; and,
12% said better sleep was their main goal.
The survey also asked about the role cannabis plays in many other aspects of people’s lives, including careers and intimate relationships.
These facts, doubtless, are music to the collective ears of cannabis entrepreneurs and producers who will surely be delighted to provide weed to this busy and rapidly growing segment of the population.
Sometimes, there’s nothing better to do than to zone out with the help of some weed. These online activities can help you get there faster.
The change in weather makes spending time indoors all the more appetizing. And sometimes, there’s nothing that sounds more pleasing than spending the day inside, hopefully horizontally and chilling out. And while Netflix is always an option, sometimes there are better activities you can do, like weed.
If you’ve already worked out or watched a movie while under the influence of THC, there’s a source of reliable fun at your fingertips: the internet. Here are a few fun and trippy suggestions for your stoned viewing pleasure.
Sometimes you smoke weed and want to zone out and do nothing. Electric Sheep, a really trippy screensaver, can help you out, providing you with a fun backdrop that will make you giggle and mumble “wow” every couple of seconds. Electric Sheep is a riff on the sheep we dream about when we sleep, and is a layout made up of collaborations of thousands of people from all over the world.
For some reason, space is always a hit with weed people. While you can always spend your time watching YouTube space videos, NASA’s livestream of Earth provides you with live coverage of the planet, with no voiceover. It’s almost unbearably trippy while sober.
Hannah Hart’s YouTube channel has been around for a while, with her My Drunk Kitchen videos dating back to 2011. While MDK doesn’t feature cooking while high, it’s still messy and funny, resulting in delicious and sometimes not so appetizing entries.
Alison Roman’s home videos
Alison Roman’s recipes tend to be the right amount of challenging while also being relatively accessible for people who are no chefs. They’re also really delicious and inventive, usually providing clever twists to traditional recipes. Her YouTube channel is incredibly fun, containing a good list of clips and recipes, while also being soothing and appetizing, thus catnip for stoners.
Cache Monet is one of those sites that you can’t explain but also one of the reasons why the internet is so great. Once you’re in, you’re presented with a weird set of randomized images set to randomized music. By clicking again, or waiting a bit, the combination is replaced. Described as an “internet enabled art installation,” Cache Monet might be the trippiest and most entertaining place for stoned people to visit.
YouTube gaming channels
YouTube gaming channels are incredibly popular, making it very tough for you to get into them if you don’t have the right guidance. They also make a great pairing with weed, allowing you to zone out to what’s being watched. You can watch famous YouTubers playing your favorite titles, or YouTubers who do analyses of their favorite games. It’s all fair. The video we’ve added is from Videogamedunkey, who makes short and well edited videos, making for a good pick for its accessibility.
I expect that by this time next year, we will see another 50 psychedelics companies publicly listed, countless additional cannabis companies, and still more cannabis companies moving over to the psychedelics space.
Last week, I came across an article surveying the 50 (!) psychedelics companies that are now publicly traded on U.S. exchanges— a handful of which we are proud to call our clients. Of these, 41 are listed on over the counter (OTC) markets, while the remaining nine outfits are traded on either the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Cannabis, of course, has many, many more public companies. Some of these companies are tiny, with market caps of a few hundred thousand dollars; others are relative giants, with market caps into the billions.
Some of the companies referenced in the articles linked above are cross-listed. Cross-listing occurs when a company is able to meet the requirements of two or more exchanges, and lists its securities on each of them. For instance, a company based in Canada that lists on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) may choose to cross-list on a U.S. OTC exchange, or maybe even a European or Asian market. Companies cross-list because selling on multiple exchanges increases the number of investors exposed to the stock, promoting liquidity and increased share prices.
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Both cannabis and most psychedelics — especially the classic psychedelic drugs — are Schedule I controlled substances under U.S. federal law. This means that the senior U.S. exchanges (the NYSE and the Nasdaq) won’t list any company “trafficking” in those substances. The prohibition exists even though the chances of federal enforcement are vanishingly remote (at least on the cannabis side), and even if the company faithfully complies with state and local laws. An exception exists with the decentralized OTC markets, but many businesses don’t want to be there and for good reason. As a result, you see U.S. psychedelics and cannabis companies headed up to Canada to list their shares. But you also see cannabis and psychedelics companies listed on the Nasdaq and the NYSE. Why is that?
The reason is that most senior exchanges worldwide hold that if a business is lawful in all of its markets of operation (and meets various other criteria), the exchange will issue a ticker symbol. That’s why you see Canadian cannabis companies like Canopy Growth and Tilray listed on the Nasdaq– doing strange things like acquiring options (and only options) on U.S. cannabis companies to boot. These companies’ operations in Canada are lawful, but they would only be allowed to acquire U.S. cannabis outfits and maintain their U.S. senior listings once our federal laws change. The other way to do it, of course, is to stay in the R&D lane. Compass Pathways, a psilocybin pharma company we’ve written about for years, is based in England but lists on the Nasdaq. Compass can do this because its sole U.S. activity has been FDA-approved research and patent acquisition.
You might say: “Wait, if a business has to be lawful in all of its markets to be listed on an exchange, how are all of these U.S. cannabis companies listed in Canada?” The answer is that these companies are listing on junior exchanges which have relatively lax requirements. We have helped quite a few U.S. cannabis companies roll up into the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE), for example, but none of these companies are eligible for the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) or the NEO Exchange. U.S. hemp business are another story. After the 2018 Farm Bill passed, the TSX made clear it was open to hemp company businesses. This is because those businesses complied with U.S. federal law.
It’s worth noting, too, that many companies cannabis businesses directly rely upon have full access to senior U.S. and Canadian exchanges. For example, Scott Miracle-Gro trades on the NYSE, even though its wholly owned subsidiary, Hawthorne Gardening Company, focuses on the cannabis production market. Another NYSE outfit, Innovative Industrial Properties, is a REIT focused solely on cannabis. Beyond that, you have a myriad of companies (basically, the whole economy) another half-step out from the plant. It starts to get nonsensical. From a tax policy perspective, it also seems foolish to push so many domestic U.S. companies offshore. Once U.S. federal law changes, those companies may never repatriate their assets or earnings.
Where we are going with all of this is pretty clear. Cannabis and psychedelics companies will continue to go wherever they can to raise money at scale. In the public markets context, this means that any U.S. company that is a “trafficker” and not a research outfit will tend toward the U.S. OTC or Canadian exchanges. A few of the big Canadian outfits will continue to list down here, but operate only in Canada or wherever they can ship. I expect that by this time next year, we will see another 50 psychedelics companies publicly listed, countless additional cannabis companies, and still more cannabis companies moving over to the psychedelics space.
Vince Sliwoski is an attorney at Harris Bricken, a law firm with lawyers in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Barcelona, and Beijing. This article was originally published on the Canna Law Blog and has been reposted with permission.
Despite anti-legalization and prohibitionists who predicted a spike in youth marijuana consumption, cannabis use among adolescents has been hovering around 13.5% for years.
As more states pass laws allowing adult use of cannabis, concerns that legalization would make marijuana more accessible to young people arise.
In 2019, a study conducted by researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health found that teenagers who interact with cannabis brands via social media platforms are five times more likely to consume cannabis than those who don’t.
Photo by Green Chameleon via Unsplash
That Was Then…
A recently released poll from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that there has been a significant drop in cannabis usage among teenagers, aged 12-17, pointed out the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
Past-year cannabis use among the young population nationwide declined from 13.2% to 10.1% from 2019-2020, according to recent data gathered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
However, for those aged 18 to 25, past-year marijuana use percentages remained almost unchanged, dropping only slightly from 35.4% to 34.5% over the same period.
“These findings ought to reassure lawmakers that cannabis access can be legally regulated in a manner that is safe, effective, and that does not inadvertently impact young people’s habits,” NORML’s deputy director Paul Armentanosaid.
Despite anti-legalization and prohibitionists who predicted a spike in youth marijuana consumption, cannabis use among adolescents has been hovering around 13.5% for years.
Photo by Tim Mossholder via Unsplash
Moreover, according to the data published in the journal JAMA Open Network in September, there are “no increases …in the odds of past-year or past-month cannabis use post-RCL [recreational cannabis laws] enactment among … individuals aged 12 to 20 years for all races and ethnicities.”
The same cannot be said for cannabis use by adults aged 26 and older, which has been climbing over the past several years, in connection to the country’s trend toward legalizing the plant.
Separate data published in JAMA Pediatrics reported that the establishment of adult-use marijuana laws is associated with decreased rates of marijuana use among young people.
Edible highs are known for their intensity and fast-acting effects. Here’s why this happens and why they hit your harder than smoked cannabis.
Cannabis edibles have a reputation. As you’ve likely heard from at least one of your friends, there are many edible horror stories, where someone overindulges and spends a full day (or night) in a psychedelic panic. But then, if you continue to surround yourself with cannabis, you start meeting people who love edibles, using them with regularity, prizing them over flower and vapes.
Edibles are powerful and useful for all kinds of people, from those who are looking for a good time to those who want the medicinal benefits without the inhalation. They’re also very malleable and work well with daytime use; when dosed correctly, people can consume edibles and spend a relaxing day indoors, going out, and even going to work. So, why do edibles produce such strong highs?
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While edible highs can knock you out if you’re not careful, what helps best in understanding how your body treats eating cannabis versus smoking it. Two methods, two different highs, both with their own pros and cons.
Edibles are misunderstood, with beginners expecting a high similar to the one they’ve experienced with smoked marijuana; one that could be anxious and stressful on fair occasions, but that fades away once an hour has passed. Edible highs are different in one key way: they take a while to kick in and they take even longer to fade away. This makes the dosage key, much more important than if you were smoking your cannabis.
Photo by Izabelle Acheson via Unsplash
The effect of cannabis depends on how it’s metabolized in the body. In the case of edibles, cannabis compounds like THC, are ingested through the stomach and are then metabolized through the liver. This is a slow process, unlike smoked marijuana that’s absorbed through your bloodstream and produces effects within less than 20 minutes.
The fact that you have to wait for your stomach to break up the edible and processed by the liver delay the journey towards your bloodstream. This makes for the perfect situation where consumers eat an edible, wait an hour, and then assume the dosage is incorrect and that consuming more is the way to experience something. It’s most likely not.
Once the edible is ingested, the THC is metabolized by the liver and transformed into 11-hydroxy-THC, a compound that’s four times faster in crossing the blood-brain barrier than THC.
It’s also important to account for the type of edible you’re consuming. Some edibles are absorbed faster than others; for example, hard candies and lollipops start to produce an effect once you start sucking on them, making them similar to sublinguals. Within 15 to 30 minutes you’ll likely experience something. Your high will also be personalized, affected by the edible itself, your metabolism, experience with cannabis, and, most importantly, dosage.
While many questions remain about cannabis compounds and the ways they interact with our endocannabinoid system, this process might shed a light on why edible highs are so much more vivid and surreal than flower highs.
There’s no doubt that Big Tobacco will have a seat at the table when it comes to the recreational cannabis market. But how much of the market share will Big Tobacco own?
The legalization of cannabis is probably more a matter of “when” than “if” at this point, and industries and consumers alike are more than ready for it. Among the many parties who would benefit from widespread legalization of recreational cannabis sale and use, not many more would stand to gain more than the major players within the Big Tobacco industry. There are numerous reasons why that’s the case. Here are just a few.
The Decreasing Acceptance of Smoking
It’s no secret that smoking isn’t as popular as it once was. In fact, some younger people may not even believe it if you told them that smoking used to be acceptable in places like elevators and airplanes. Research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that smoking in the U.S. decreased from 20.9% to 14% from 2005 to 2019. There is also no shortage of reasons for the nationwide decrease in smokers. From health problems like emphysema and heart disease, to the fact that smoking has been banned in most public places like bars and restaurants, it’s not surprising that smoking isn’t as popular as it once was among Americans.
Not only does the cannabis market provide tobacco companies with the golden opportunity to expand their market, but it does so without having to make any major adjustments. That caveat puts many players within the tobacco industry in pole position to begin production within the marijuana industry once they’re given approval from a legislative standpoint.
Among the requirements for getting started with marijuana cultivation and production are a warm climate and the tools necessaryfor proper harvesting. The case is the same for the mass production of tobacco, which is why so many major tobacco companies have their eyes set on cannabis as their next frontier.
They’re Familiar With the Work That Goes Into Production
Along with having the resources necessary for production and distribution, big tobacco companies are also used to navigating the processes that many cannabis retailers face upon their entrance onto the marketplace. Marijuana companies that enter the recreational space typically have to abide by strict regulations regarding aspects of their business like marketing, where they can set up brick and mortar business operations, and health risks that have to be communicated to customers.
Those are many of the same challenges tobacco companies have faced at one point or another during their infancy stages. Given the fact that they’re familiar with so many of the challenges that come with getting their products into the hands of customers, the tobacco industry is much better positioned to enter and dominate the recreational cannabis space than those migrating into the industry from other fields.
There’s no doubt that Big Tobacco will have a seat at the table when it comes to the recreational cannabis market. However, one question that still remains is how much of the market share will Big Tobacco own, in comparison to entrepreneurs representing communities where the War on Drugs has done irreparable damage.
Originally, many thought of recreational cannabis sales as an avenue for members of those communities to recoup damages incurred through mass incarceration for marijuana related offenses, but the looming threat of Big Tobacco within the industry will determine whether those plans come to fruition or not.
How close are we to legalizing marijuana on a federal level? If this list of Republican senators is any indication, we’re at least moving forward, even if it’s at a glacial pace.
Senate Republicans can have a particularly cold stance when it comes to cannabis reform and its legislation in general. Even bringing up marijuana, cannabis or hemp may trigger a dismissive or angry response.
Today’s Republican senate is still overwhelmingly anti-marijuana legalization. However, over the last several years there have been small, almost imperceivable shifts that may just head towards the direction of open minds.
The tides may be moving slowly, but they are moving. Some are supporting cannabis banking legislation and others are exploring the possible benefits of marijuana for veterans. Today there exists a sense of curiosity and interest in the air where before there was a “just say not” war on drugs. Even staunch conservatives have moved from the “under no circumstance” category to the crusaders of hemp farming bills.
Photo by Cappi Thompson/Getty Images
Lisa Murkowski, Alaska
Senator Murkowski has been vocal about her support of cannabis legislation. Murkowski is one of the original cosponsors of the Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which ensures that banks and marijuana-related businesses can do business together.
Her voting record and public comments show that she is ready to hear further conversations when it comes to cannabis legislation.
Susan Collins, Maine
Senator Susan Collins is an example of a republican politician whose stance and voting record is shifting when it comes to marijuana policy. She initially opposed a banking bill similar to the SAFE Banking Act several years ago. Now she is co-sponsoring the SAFE Banking Act bill.
“I just want to make sure that members of this committee understand that this amendment is different from the one that many of us supported,” Collins said.
Dan Sullivan, Alaska
Senator Dan Sullivan has recently introduced legislation and shown support for research to see if veterans should have access to cannabis for medical purposes. “I’m glad to reintroduce this legislation with Chairman Tester, directing the VA to investigate how cannabis use can affect veterans with PTSD and chronic pain,” said Sullivan in anApril press release.
Steve Daines, Montana
Steve Daines also supports the SAFE Banking Act. Although he is still cool on the idea of legalization, he has made it clear that he stands by what the people of his state want. “The people in Montana decided they want to have it legal in our state, and that’s why I support the SAFE Banking Act as well” Said Daines,according to Politico.
Photo by alexsl/Getty Images
Kevin Cramer, North Dakota
Senator Kevin Cramer does not support legalization of cannabis currently, but has voted to support those working in the cannabis industry to receive proper rights and benefits.
“Federal law should not prohibit access to insurance for employees of local businesses these states voted to support, nor should it prohibit employers from acquiring insurance that protects their stores,” said Sen. Cramerin a press release.
John Hoeven, North Dakota
John Hoeven has taken a less personal approach to his views on cannabis, and is deferring to the people of North Dakota. Senator Hoeven has recently spoken out that he is in favor of what the citizens he represents are in favor of. ”States are determining how this issue will be handled now and going forward. Senator Hoeven is willing to support medical marijuana since North Dakotans have voted to legalize it,” a spokesperson for Hoeven said in a statement to VICE.
Rand Paul, Kentucky
Rand Paul has been one of the stronger republican advocates for hemp and cannabis in general. His voting record and public comments both show he is interested in continued progress as it pertains to cannabis. “For years, I’ve led the fight in Washington to restore one of Kentucky’s most historically vital crops by legalizing industrial hemp,” said Paul in a press release.
Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
Senator Mitch McConnell is very hot and cold on cannabis. On one hand, he is vocally opposed to legalizing marijuana. On the other, he is very excited about growing industrial hemp, especially in his home state of Kentucky.
“My provision in the Farm Bill will not only legalize domestic hemp, but it will also allow state departments of agriculture to be responsible for its oversight” McConnelltweeted in 2018. McConnell shows no signs of warming up to legalizing marijuana, but his Farm Bill does open the door to cannabis horticulture in the heartland.
Todd Young, Indiana
This Indiana senator has expressed similar views to McConnell. Todd Young has co-sponsored the Industrial Hemp Farming act of 2015, but shows no signs of backing any marijuana legalization. Still, recognizing the importance of the hemp industry is certainly a first step.
Cory Gardner, Colorado
Former Senator Cory Gardner may no longer serve the people of Colorado, but his republican tenure in Colorado left an impact. “Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner has emerged as a champion of the cannabis industry in a GOP-controlled chamber led by anti-marijuana hawks,” according toPolitico.
People often point to Gardner as an example that one can be a successful republican senator while also supporting cannabis in their state. Although he did not win his most recent reelection, his marijuana stance is a reminder that political stances on hot button issues will often shift and evolve within political parties.
Halloween is almost here. As costumed revelers prepare for a weekend of celebrations, the cannabis industry readies for the beginning of the holiday shopping season just around the corner.
Green Wednesday, Black Friday and December holiday shopping sales dominate the collective minds of business operators. However, Halloween is a time to possibly see sales spike around edibles, but also as a moment to look back at the industry’s tricks and treats so far.
Photo by VictoriaBee/Getty Images
While the market’s growth is sweet, many sources that spoke with Benzinga say federal reform remains a trick no American should continue to endure.
Biggest Treats: A Rapidly Developing Cannabis Market
Overall, respondents steered clear of calling any cannabis companies tricks or treats in recent years. Instead, most focused on the market and legislative developments across much of the U.S.
Green Chip Stocks founderJeff Siegel said the industry’s development is happening thanks to state-level legalization, something he didn’t expect to occur so quickly but is happy to see.
Siegel, a fan of infusing his own chocolates, added, “I honestly thought it would take much longer to get to where we are today.”
Some states are seeing the benefit of expanded cannabis reform. Roger Bloss, CEO of MJ Holdings Inc., said the shift from medical to adult-use was a treat for Nevada.
“Medical cannabis alone could not serve the hospitality and tourism sector in Las Vegas,” said Bloss, a black licorice fan.
In October 2021, a Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) and state tax department report found that Nevada sold over $1 billion in medical and adult-use products between July 2020 and June 2021.
Along with certain states, U.S. MSOs are on the rise. Michael Sassano, CEO of Somai Pharma, said the emergence of profitable American brands was sweet for the marketplace.
“The emergence of true companies that rival corporate American standards is the biggest thing to bring credibility to the cannabis industry over the last four years,” he stated.
Photo by Ivan-balvan/Getty Images
Sassano, a fan of full-spectrum strain-specific live resin gummy bears, mentioned several MSOs on his list, including:
Trulieve Cannabis Corporation
Curaleaf Hldgs Inc.
Green Thumb Industries Inc.
Cresco Labs Inc.
Verano Holdings Corp.
TerrAscend Corp.
AYR WELLNESS INC.
Monica Pina, VP of investor relations for Cliintel Capital Management Group, said the biggest treats are brands that form emotional connections with consumers.
“Companies with values that consumers identify with and brands that are familiar to them will attract the most retail investors,” said Pina, a fan of candy corn, but only for decorative purposes.
She said companies should focus marketing funds on building brand consistency and loyalty to secure their market share. If successful, the company should attract retail investor attention.
Pina added that industry rewards are still on their way. “The most significant stock treats for the cannabis industry are still yet to come.”
Biggest Trick: Federal Regulation Reform
Virtually every source said that the lack of federal reform has been the most significant industry trick so far. While many predicted that reform would drag out, sources registered their disappointment.
“Not only has almost every state legalized cannabis to some extent but there is over $17 billion in unbanked revenues; still, the federal government has not moved the needle to provide safe banking for all, at minimum,” Sassano explained, adding that he believed Democrats taking all three houses would sway reform, but that hasn’t been the case.
“They could easily have passed basic decriminalization and banking but chose to sink the entire market by producing nothing but hot air and indecision,” Sassano said, noting that circumstances temporarily scared some investors away.
Photo by alexsl/Getty Images
Bloss believes one side of the aisle wants to legalize while the other doesn’t, causing a seemingly endless back-and-forth in the news.
“One week, there’s positive news about federal banking being reported on. The next week, there’s positive coverage about federal legalization,” which could harm pot brands he opined.
Bloss added that the struggles he’s dealt with as a CEO make his job more difficult.
“It hinders us, for example, when deciding to create a full vertical to cultivate, process, distribute, and dispense cannabis. If I’m going to invest in cultivation, distribution, processing, and dispensing, timing is ultimately key,” Bloss said.
As such, Pina considers companies with strategies tied to regulations as some of the market’s biggest tricks.
“Changes take longer than anticipated—that is, if the desired change is ever achieved at all,” she noted. Pina said she prefers companies with a business model that can pivot on short notice.
A recent study found a pair of side effects that are associated with long-haul COVID-19.
There are a couple of recurring side effects that are now being associated with post-COVID-19 symptoms (also known as “long COVID”). According to a new study, memory loss and cognitive dysfunction are common symptoms linked with survivors of the virus.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, was conducted on patients interned in Mount Sinai Health System. Researchers assessed the cognitive functions of 740 patients who had contracted COVID-19 and ranked their common symptoms. The top two symptoms were memory loss (24%) and memory recall (23%).
Both of these symptoms are associated with what we informally call “brain fog.” Memory encoding allows you to carry out basic tasks, like remembering a location or a phone number. Memory recall refers to the steps you take to retrieve these memories. These results were achieved by asking people words and categories to recall, and showing subjects numbers on a screen, and later asking them to recall them.
The worse the disease, the more prevalent these symptoms were, with the study showing that hospitalized patients fared worse on these mental tasks than patients who were not hospitalized.
Brain fog is a term we often use to refer to any spacey feeling in our brain. It makes focusing, paying attention to your surroundings, tuning in on conversations, and more, much more difficult.
According to a study published earlier this month, post-COVID-19 symptoms (also known as “long COVID”) affects a significant amount of people. The study found that of the 236 million people diagnosed with COVID-19, half of them experienced long COVID-19 symptoms, which can range from seriously limiting to mildly impairing.
Speaking with Yahoo Finance about the debut of the Tyson 2.0 cannabis line, in partnership with Columbia Care, the former heavyweight champion said he wished he smoked cannabis his “whole career” instead of drinking.
“My life was just miserable, I was out of control. I was fighting with everybody. If someone asked me for an autograph, I’d punch them in the face. I was just a mess, and then after I retired, I started smoking,” Tyson said.
Photo by James Gilbert/Stringer/Getty Images
“What a mistake that was — I should have smoked my whole career. I should have smoked when I was fighting because it put me in this different state of mind. I’m very relaxed and the more relaxed you are, the better fighter you are, at least in my case.”
No Regrets
Tyson noted that he has faced repercussions due to cannabis use in the past. Even when his victory over Andrew Golota was changed to no-contest following a positive test for marijuana, Tyson said he has no regrets.
“I broke his cheekbone, his eye socket, his rib — I should have been doing this from the beginning. I got fined for that, of course, but it was worth every bit of it,” Tyson said.
Tyson credited psychedelics for his comeback. “I think of it as an enhancer. It makes me better, even in the ring. The punches don’t hurt as much, it has a lot to do with my comeback, the psychedelics.”
Tyson joins other star athletes that support the use of cannabis: Al Harrington, CEO of Viola, which is the first Black-owned multinational cannabis brand; NBA legend Allen Iverson; US soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe; Superbowl champion Marvin Washington; Ricky Williams, former NFL running back and co-founder of the cannabis company Real Wellness, and the former undefeated UFC champion, Frank Shamrock… to name several on the growing list of athletes who are finding cannabis and CBD beneficial and who, like Tyson, have no regrets.
