Economics Puts Pressure On The Feds To Move on Marijuana

Terry Hacienda

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March 7, 2024

Economics Puts Pressure On The Feds To Move on Marijuana

It is no secret Presidential administration and Congress is influenced by money, the cannabis just had another banner year

Certain industries have a huge influence of the federal government – insurance, banking, alcohol and more. And companies like Boeing have had a long a cozy relationship. Congress understands the value of money, especially if it benefits states. Now the data says the cannabis industry is continuing strength legal growth and making a difference in government bottom lines. The economics puts pressure on the Feds to move on marijuana.

BDSA, a leading analytics firm which covers the cannabis industry, just released their 2023 year in report. And it shows another strong year for the marijuana industry. The reports reflects the growing acceptance of people consuming and the public becoming more accepting of medical marijuana.

The biggest news is the industry is U.S. sales totaled $29.5 billion in 2023. Global legal cannabis spending grew to $36 billion. One of the stars last year was Missouri. With over six million residents, it is the 18th most populated in the country. Yet, the state hit $1 billion in sales. There seems to a shift in public consumption as Canada now has the data of people lowering beer consumption and embracing the healthier cannabis option. Long term this is beneficial for many reasons including domestic violence.

The bleak spot is New York and their continuing chaos with legal and illicit dispensaries. The botched rollout has been highly expensive for the state in regards to lost sate revenue and for honest business owners, mostly mom and pops. While New York made $174 million on the small amount of licensed shops, the state lost an estimated $1.5+ billion to the black market and its 1,500+ unlicensed dispensaries in New York City alone. New York’s mess kept the industry from breaking $30 billion.

In their forecasting, BDSA expects continuing 12% growth in the market with additional states onboarding. This puts pressure on the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to move on the recommendation to reschedule cannabis which will have a significant impact on the industry.

“U.S. adult-use markets currently represent approximately 56% of total global cannabis sales, and are poised to claim an even larger share of global sales in the coming years as U.S. medical markets contract,” said Roy Bingham, co-founder and CEO of BDSA.

Best Advice For Shy And Anxious People Using Apps

Sarah Johns

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March 7, 2024

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Best Advice For Shy And Anxious People Using Apps

Approximately 40 to 50%of adults are shy, which makes it harder to find the special someone

Approximately 40-50% of adults are shy, making it hard for you to not only make friends – but to find the special someone. Across the world, shy people have a little bit more trouble and have to use a lot more effort to get out there and take the chance. Thanks to the technology today, it is a bit easier to do it online. Here is the best advice for shy and anxious people using apps to date.

Shyness and social anxiety can go hand in hand. Social anxiety is the fear of social situations involving other people, with a focus on “being embarrassed, humiliated, rejected or looked down on in social interactions.” But this is not fully a barrier to finding a bestie, a partner or even just a lover.

Before you start, make a list of the best qualities friends and family share about you. It will take you into the connections/messaging/chatting with a positive vibe. Know your worth of before you find someone special, it will give you a better space to start.

Also, narrow what you want in a partner, it gives you a better focus as you interact with others. Maybe 3-4 things so you have a solid base.

Get to know the different apps

One thing which diminishes stress and the feeling of being out of control is research. Before you start swiping get to know the different dating apps, specially those that are designed with shy or anxious people in mind. While these apps might have a smaller user base than Tinder, they might adapt better to your needs. In research find out the best tips for profiles, responses, etc.

Get help from friends when setting up your profile

Every person is different when it comes to managing anxiety. While some prefer to keep it to themselves or journal it out, others seek the help of their friends and family members. Don’t doubt yourself or feel embarrassed when setting up your profile; ask friends and family on their opinions and allow them to help you choose an interesting bio and some flattering pictures. Also, ask opinions on when and how to share information to others online.

Once-A-Week Rule — Photo by Brodie Vissers via Burst

Set some boundaries

While dating apps help break the ice, it’s very common for people to chat with hundreds and never go on a date. Set some time limits and don’t let yourself chat with people with no discernible goal in sight. Dating apps are for dating, which means that at some point you’re going to have to meet this person face to face. It’s also important to prevent your dating app use to intrude on your day to day life. Avoid using the app while working or when doing something you normally enjoy. If you need some help in keeping track of your app use, enable your smartphone time management feature. This tool will limit your time on the app, setting up a fixed amount of minutes per day that block the app once you’ve been there for too long.

Use the chat option to take pressure off the first date

One of the best parts about dating apps is the fact that you can get to know the person you’ll be meeting before a face to face encounter. Take advantage of all chatting and text messaging by taking your time to come up with questions and answers without having the pressure of a stranger waiting for the perfect response. But a warning, don’t go too long just chatting, it can set unrealistic expectations when you do finally meet in person.

Take breaks

Breaks are very helpful for all sorts of dating app users. While dating around and chatting with people can be very fun, rejection is also almost always part of the equation. Know this might happen at any moment and you might spend weeks swiping around without having a match. Take a break and then jump back in.

How To Dry Out Wet Weed

Terry Hacienda

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March 6, 2024

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For one reason or another it happens – caught the rain, a spill, poor storage. Here is how to dry out damp weed.

Like cheese, truffle, and aged beef, the process of prepping marijuana to be used it key…and has a lot to do with the journey. Whether for recreational or medical, it is step which enhance the plant. But sometimes things happen, it accidentally gets wet or when you get it home after the purchase…it feels moist. Luckily, here is how to dry out wet weed and make sure the THC and use is intact.

Before going and drying out your cannabis, be sure you’re not mistaking extremely sticky buds for yet too much wet. Sticky icky was likely cured perfectly, it’s just going to, naturally, stick to your fingers and feel suspiciously damp. But as long as it doesn’t squish when lightly squeezed, leave the sticky alone.

If it’s just a little too moist, putting the buds in a paper bag and then closing it for a few hours could do the trick. If they’re a little more damp than that, rotate having the paper bag opened and closed every 8 hours or so until it crisps up to your standards.

Now if the weed truly was just harvested, the colors will be very vibrant and the plant will feel extremely humid from the inside out. If you’ve broken up a bud that’s wet through and through, it’s time to get your own cure on. Place the ripe nuggets into glass jars as stated above and also routinely open and close the jars.

Depending on just how wet the weed was, this could be a process that takes more than a day and more like a week or so. The smaller popcorn buds will dry faster and can thus be plucked for smoking before the real meaty ones are properly dried and cured.

Truly, genetics and taking care during the grow play major roles in quality cannabis, but if you don’t have a proper cure, it’s not going to be showtime for your buds. A perfect cure means easily ground, evenly smoked, delicious cannabis packed with terpenes and that shows off all the hard work that the breeders and growers put into it.

This shouldn’t happen if you bought it at a legit dispensary so be aware you likely didn’t get what you paid for to begin with, as wet weed is heavier.

A Look At Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

Joel Claycomb

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March 6, 2024

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A Look At Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

As it becomes more common – Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is become a thing for a tiny amount of consumers.

Activation of neurological cannabinoid receptors can aid in preventing nausea and vomiting, particularly so in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Considering the usual effects of THC and other cannabinoids on receptors in the brain, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) seems to be a paradoxical condition. So why do some individuals suffer from this syndrome?

First described in 2004, CHS typically affects long term consumers of cannabis more so than casual users. It is a condition characterized by chronic cannabis use, cyclic episodes of nausea and vomiting, and excessive bathing or showering with hot water to abate the symptoms and to find relief. As more states legalize cannabis for medical and adult recreational use, emergency departments across the country are seeing a rise in the number of individuals diagnosed with Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS).

It has been proposed that receptors in the brain stop responding to cannabis in their usual manner in some individuals. Meanwhile, cannabinoid receptors in the gastrointestinal track that seem to have the opposite effects on nausea and vomiting are still activated. When this happens, gastrointestinal receptors that are no longer overshadowed by the effects of cannabis in the brain lead to abdominal discomfort, pain, and nausea.

CHS is divided into three stages; prodromal, hyperemetic, and recovery phases. In the prodromal phase, individuals may experience early morning nausea and abdominal pain, though most will continue with normal eating patterns. Some may increase their consumption of cannabis, seeking relief from the general discomfort. This phase is often misdiagnosed due to nonspecific symptoms and may last for months to years.

In the hyperemetic phase, individuals have continued nausea, multiple episodes of vomiting, increased abdominal pain, decreased food intake and weight loss, as well as dehydration. During this period, hot showers tend to alleviate the discomfort and nausea. This phase may continue until an individual completely discontinues use of cannabis. It usually takes one to two days for the hyperemetic phase to resolve.

Treatment is palliative in the hyperemetic phase as it takes time for the endocannabinoid system to return to an inactivated state. IV fluids are given to prevent or treat dehydration, antiemetics and proton pump inhibitors are given to decrease vomiting and nausea, as well as capsaicin cream applied to the stomach.¹ Finally, in the recovery phase an individual will begin to resume normal eating habits and will stop suffering from gastrointestinal issues. This phase may last days or weeks, however symptoms may come back upon use of cannabis.

It has been theorized that the recent uptick in cases of CHS may be due to the increased availability of high potency THC products.¹ However, a recent Canadian study indicates that other factors may be at play. Two groups were compared, one suffering from CHS, and one that consisted of cannabis users who were not. The study found there was not an obvious correlation between cannabinoid concentrations in individuals and CHS occurring.4 In any case, further research on the specific cannabinoids and receptors involved will be necessary to fully understand CHS moving forward.

Reading While On A Marijuana High

Sarah Johns

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March 6, 2024

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Enjoying a good book is a habit that needs to be cultivated in order to be wholly understood. Here are some tips that can help you get started.

Marijuana can enhance a variety of things or bring things down and chill you out. While used for fun or medical reasons, sometimes you just want to cozy yourself up and have a great experience. From Boston to Mountlake Terrace, people consume and immerse themselves in a movie. Others hike, workout, code, and more. And for a some, the lose themselves in a good book. Here are tips on reading while on a marijuana high.

Similar to doing any other activity while high, what you really need to do in order to succeed is practice. Marijuana can add a lot of layers to reading, making the experience more enjoyable or even helping reconnect with it if you’ve been having a hard time focused on full books.

Just like listening to music and reading, getting high and reading can help craft a better mood. Once you hit the right stride you’ll disover you’re more relaxed and engaged with the story.

Choose the right book

If you’re just starting out pairing weed and books, you don’t want to kick it off with dense literary novels. Try something that feels easy to for you, going back to something you used to read when you were young or a genre that’s simple and compulsive, like romance or horror. Good ideas are the Harry Potter books or something by Stephen King. A graphic novel can also make for a really good starting place.

Let go of the “right way to read”

5 Online Bookclubs To Join Now That You're Spending More Time At Home — Photo by Thought Catalog from Pexels

Reading lends itself to very ritualistic behaviors. Some people prefer to read paper books and can only read when they’re surrounded by total silence. While there’s no judgment, you’ll have more success if you’re able to read while in a variety of situations. Train yourself to read in different places, even if it’s only for 5 or 10 minutes at a time. When high, try your best to read and enjoy yourself, avoiding stress if your mind can’t hold on to all of the words that are on the page.

Pay attention to the strain

The strain you’re smoking will have an impact on your reading experience as a whole. Try to avoid sleepy strains, since they’ll make a relaxing activity even more relaxing and you’ll fall asleep, which is great but doesn’t really serve the purpose of this article. Choose a strain that’s cerebral yet contained, something that will help you feel creative but also grounded. Ask your budtender for a light indica or a sativa that doesn’t produce too much anxiety.

Watch your dosage

When starting on your weed reading journey, watch your dosage, taking a couple of puffs to see how your body takes to this new experience. You can always smoke later if you need more, but it helps to start off slow. Happy reading!

Legal Marijuana Says Aloha Hawai’i

Sarah Johns

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March 5, 2024

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The tropical paradise just got a little better, the state’s senate just approved recreational cannabis.

Hawaii one of the smallest states and is the 39th most populous 1.4 million residents. Two thirds live on Oʻahu. Tourism is the life blood of the island with 932,713 visiting in 2023. In the first quarter of that year, visitor spending was $2.11 billion, up from $1.78 billion (+18.5%) the previous year. Now, legal marijuana says Aloha Hawai’i thanks to their state house.

The rise of marijuana was fueled by the burgeoning jazz scene in the 1930s and ’40s which coincided with the growth of surfing in the in the ’50s. Hawaii become a Mecca for wave, music and sun…and maybe a little something else. Now Hawaii is enshrining them all into law. Roughly. 58% of Hawai’i residents are in favor of “legalizing marijuana to allow possession, manufacture, and sale of marijuana by and to adults and elected heard the message!

The Hawai’i State Senate passed a bill that would legalize and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older, with am additional focus on public safety. The bill now moves to the Hawai’i House of Representatives for consideration.

Before reaching the Senate floor, the bill was approved by four committees. Amendments were approved during the committee process, including to add non-discrimination provisions that would prevent children from being taken away based on cannabis, prevent parole/probation revocation, and prevent state benefits and entitlements from being denied; and to provide for expungement and resentencing.

The Hawai’i alliance for Cannabis reform is very optimistic about it passing the House and being signed by the governor.

Nikos Leverenz, of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai’i and the Hawai’i Health and Harm Reduction Center shared “Although this is an imperfect bill that still contains far too many elements of criminalization, it’s welcome news to have a viable adult-use legalization bill that can be improved upon when it reaches the House. Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and other members of the Hawaii Alliance for Cannabis Reform are hopeful that our proposed amendments will be considered by the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. It will also be important for reform advocates to engage skeptical members of the House, including many freshman lawmakers, who have placed far too much currency in the monotonous, less than fact-based rhetoric from the criminal legal lobby.”

Things move slower in Hawai’i as the population tends to be stable with few people either moving to or away from the island. They are very relationship based and having something like this takes time and great effort.

Yuck, This Weed Dispensary Did What

Anthony Washington

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March 5, 2024

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We have all seen stuff which has made us hesitate – but this is truly yuck

Since going legal, cannabis has been booming across the country and more people have been embracing consuming. And not just the younger generations, boomers have found all sort of medical and other benefits. Dispensaries have done well and, Missouri, has done very well coming in at a billion in sales in 2023. But with the former administration and the slow moving Biden team, it does leave room for a few bad apples in the barrel. And yuck, this weed dispensary did what – something you will not believe!

In November 2022, 67.2% of Maryland voters approved recreational marijuana on on July 1, 2023, it went into effect. The state currently has over 100 marijuana dispensaries licensed by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Administration (MCA) to sell cannabis to qualifying patients and eligible adult consumers. Most dispensaries are Mom and Pop retailers who put their best foot forward and in do what is best for the customer. Except one.

marijuana dispensary — Photo by smodj/Getty Images

Curio’s Far & Dotter dispensary in Timonium decided not to embrace the cool, chill, do good vibe of the traditional cannabis culture. They focused on making a profit, and went a little overboard. It seems the team at the dispensary tossed 224 grams of cannabis into a dumpster outside the dispensary, where it sat for 41 hours and nine minutes unguarded.

What happened next was caught on a surveillance camera. Three dispensary employees retrieved four boxes containing the pre-packaged product from the dumpster. Then another employee repackage the marijuana, removing it from the original boxes, and placing them into plastic bags, before storing them inside a vault.

An employee informed an investigator from the MCA the cannabis needed to be placed in the plastic bags because the original packages were covered in a liquid substance acquired from the dumpster

Management did not want to lose the profit and sold the product for a total of $3,174.50 in sales. This was against the advice the product be destroyed as it violates several compliance requirements.

The company received $26,000 fine, ordered to submit its green waste logs for monthly reviews by the MCA, submit its scale calibration and cleaning logs for monthly review, and retrain staff on green waste procedures. The manager we fired.

In an emailed statement to the Baltimore Banner, a spokesperson for Curio said the company prides itself on relationships with its customers and employees.

“The aforementioned product was inside sealed jars, within sealed boxes, and it is undisputed that no outside material ever breached the jars or touched the product,” the statement said.

Curio also said they’ve conducted an internal investigation and that nonadherence to safety and compliance requirements “is not taken lightly nor tolerated.”

Why Some Don’t Have A High The First Time They Consume Weed

Terry Hacienda

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March 5, 2024

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Why Some Don’t Have A High The First Time They Consume Weed

As more people have access to legal marijuana – more first timers are getting a little confused – especially about the high.

More people are trying marijuana. Canada is fully legal and over 50% of the US population have recreational weed access. The social stigma is almost gone also as over 85% of the population believe it should be legal in some form. There are decisions on how (old school by smoking, current with gummies or vapes), where and alone or with others. After prepping it though, occasionally there is another question – why some don’t have a high the first time consume weed.

Despite what we know of marijuana tolerance, the more you’re exposed to cannabis the less it affects your, the phenomenon of not feeling anything the first few times you consume affects a number of first timers. Experts have different theories as to why this happens.

One of the most prominent theories states that in order for people to experience weed properly, they must first learn how to do it correctly. People need to be exposed to the drug repeatedly until their body understands what it’s supposed to feel. Experts call this a “sensitization period,” when THC interacts with the cannabinoids in your system a few times in order to activate them and to produce that high feeling. It may take a couple of sessions before you smoke and know that you are actually high versus feeling what you think you should be experiencing.

Smoking verus other methods my also be a reason. Smoking can be a bit tricky. You my be inhaling cannabis but keeping the smoke in the mouth, which prevents the THC from making its way to your bloodstream.

There’s not one definitive answer when it comes to cannabis and its effect on our bodies, but it’s always hard to do something for the first time, whether that’s smoking weed or getting a tattoo. Your expectations, the people you’re with, and your biology will have a hand in your first couple of experiences with weed, which is why it’s important to be patient and open minded.

When first using marijuana, start off slow surrounded by people you trust. Put your phone on silent to minimize extra sources of stress. Once you start, pause for a bit (15-30 minutes for smoking/vape and 45 minutes for edibles) so you can monitor your feelings closely, that way you can make sure you get high but not too high.

Study Finds Key Surprise About Medical Marijuana Patients

Terry Hacienda

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March 5, 2024

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Study Finds Key Surprise About Medical Marijuana Patients

Have a long term illness is tough, but data has shown a way to make it less worse

Having to deal with a medical issue for a longer time can be depressing and debilitating. over 40 million in the US and Canada are limited in their usual activities due to one or more chronic health conditions. Several studies have demonstrated that MC helps reduce the opioid dosage for patients undergoing treatment for non-cancer pain. It can also be substituted in place of opioids to achieve therapeutic benefits. Dealing with pain can be helped…but now a study finds a key surprised about medical marijuana patients which is more holistic.

Johns Hopkins researchers partnered with Realm of Caring, a nonprofit dedicated to therapeutic marijuana research, and collected data from 1,276 patients associated with the organization. Among the participants, 808 patients consumed medical marijuana products, and 468 patients who served as a control group.

Patients were asked about their quality of life, sleep habits, pain symptoms, mental health status, ongoing use of non-marijuana medications, and baseline health. Those who use medical marijuana recorded significant improvements in quality of life and health satisfaction than the control group. They also expressed less pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms than non-users. Lastly, they used less prescription medications and visited the hospital less than their counterparts.

“This study shows clearly that cannabinoids have a very positive effect on health outcomes across the board among all age groups and demographics. This publication will be the first of many based on the detailed findings of this extensive data set,” Realm of Caring CEO Jonathan Hoggard. “Perhaps the most dramatic finding in this study was that medicinal cannabis use was associated with 39% fewer ER visits and 46% fewer hospital admissions.”

Among the control group were patients interested in exploring potential therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana. Researchers noted that some of them began using medical marijuana during the study and subsequently reported higher health and well-being levels after the fact.

“People felt better when they started. That is a powerful signal,” study author Ryan Vandrey said.

The paper notes that biases and pre-existing beliefs about marijuana should be considered for both patients and researchers. While this is the first step in research, it is an indication of additional benefits of medical marijuana.

Beer Sales Flatten Thanks To Marijuana

Sarah Johns

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March 4, 2024

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The number three drink in the world is struggling a bit in the land of the maple leaf

Observations gave an indication in California, but now Canada has the data. Legal marijuana is taking some of the foam and market share from beer. But beer lovers, don’t panic yet, it is still the #3 most popular drink in the world behind water and tea. IT has been the king of hot days, after work hangouts and college campuses. But a new era has emerged.

This research, published last week in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, not only marks a significant shift in the alcohol market but also raises questions about the broader implications of cannabis legalization on alcohol consumption habits.

Already, Gen Z has changed their drinking habits. Data shows alcohol has a smaller appeal to a strong percentage of Gen Z drinking-age adults (aged 21-24). A total of 27% say they never drink alcoholic beverages. Gen Z adults who drink do so more frequently than older adults – 47% of all Gen Z adults (21+) drink alcohol daily to weekly. Baby Boomer drinkers drink the least frequently, with 35% of all Boomers drinking alcohol at least weekly.

Beer also has a few disadvantages as opposed to marijuana. Beer has higher calories, filling and, comparatively, a bit more expensive. A quick gummy on a Monday night can take the edge off the day with less weight gain and a more filling wallet.

The study’s authors concluded that the legalization of non-medical cannabis was linked to an immediate downturn in beer sales, a trend which persisted into the post-legalization period. This indicates a potential shift in consumer behavior, with individuals increasingly turning to legal cannabis as an alternative to beer.

This is a positive societal sign as marijuana legalization spread. While not health food, cannabis has fewer harmful side effects and has proven medical benefits.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

Economics Puts Pressure On The Feds To Move on Marijuana

It is no secret Presidential administration and Congress is influenced by money, the cannabis just had another banner year

Approximately 40 to 50%of adults are shy, which makes it harder to find the special someone

How To Dry Out Wet Weed

For one reason or another it happens – caught the rain, a spill, poor storage. Here is how to dry out damp weed.

A Look At Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

As it becomes more common – Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome is become a thing for a tiny amount of consumers.

Reading While On A Marijuana High

Enjoying a good book is a habit that needs to be cultivated in order to be wholly understood. Here are some tips that can help you get started.

Choose the right book

Let go of the “right way to read”

Pay attention to the strain

Watch your dosage

Legal Marijuana Says Aloha Hawai’i

The tropical paradise just got a little better, the state’s senate just approved recreational cannabis.

Yuck, This Weed Dispensary Did What

We have all seen stuff which has made us hesitate – but this is truly yuck

Why Some Don’t Have A High The First Time They Consume Weed

As more people have access to legal marijuana – more first timers are getting a little confused – especially about the high.

Study Finds Key Surprise About Medical Marijuana Patients

Have a long term illness is tough, but data has shown a way to make it less worse

Beer Sales Flatten Thanks To Marijuana

The number three drink in the world is struggling a bit in the land of the maple leaf

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