Are High State Marijuana Taxes Really The Cause Of The Tenacious Black Market?

Opinion

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August 28, 2021

Are High State Marijuana Taxes Really The Cause Of The Tenacious Black Market?

As long as there is a spot of prohibition, there will be an opportunity for criminal organizations to capitalize.

Cannabis advocates have argued for years that legalization is the key to ending the black market pot trade. However, it’s been more than a decade since Colorado became the first state to legalize the leaf for recreational use, and the illicit marijuana market hasn’t gone anywhere.

Some reports show that 80% of California’s weed sales are still made in the black market, despite full-scale legalization. Nevertheless, this is not legalization’s fault, according to the advocacy groups. They blame high taxes as one of the primary reasons that black-market marijuana won’t die.

Marijuana Legalization Makes Black Market Weed Cheaper, Heroin More Expensive — Photo by Matthew Karila via Unsplash

“By raising the price of marijuana for consumers, these costs undermine a major competing purpose of legalization: elimination of the black market,” claims a political study published last year by Reason Foundation. “As demonstrated by alcohol and cigarettes, excessive taxation can influence consumers’ decisions to patronize the black market.”

In many ways, statewide marijuana legalization, even without the high tax rates, has stoked black market commerce nationwide. Aside from an influx of unlicensed pot shops operating in legal states — making it challenging for legal operations to remain profitable — illegal growers are using the liberal pot laws to produce a surplus of illicit pot and export it to areas of prohibition.

As I pointed out in a 2018 column for Forbes, marijuana legalization makes the black market better in prohibition states. It allows pot consumers in places like Indiana and Kentucky, where weed is still as illegal as ever, to purchase several different strains, concentrates, edibles, anything really. This crucial part of the illicit trade has nothing to do with high taxes.

It’s all about demand.

Taxation instead of criminalization is what cannabis advocates have spent decades trying to sell. It was the leading advantage long before anyone ever thought that weed would eventually go legal. “Can you imagine how much money the government would make if they would just legalize it?” was the typical spiel coming from the mouths of defenders of the doob. But now, they complain that the taxation scheme isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Still, it’s not even that local and state governments are failing to generate substantial revenues by selling weed to adults 21 and over. Colorado continues to collect roughly $50 million a month from legitimate pot shops.

Nevertheless, the illicit pot trade doesn’t appear to be going anywhere soon. As we’ve seen over the years, states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use are not willing to give up tax dollars for the sake of crippling the black market. Illinois has one of the highest tax rates in the nation. Meanwhile, Colorado voters will decide later this year to increase pot taxes to boost out-of-school learning.

Will this hike drive more customers into the black market? Some industry experts argue that Colorado pot consumers are too invested in legal weed to return to the black market now.

how the costco of cannabis will upend marijuana black market — Photo by Yarygin/Getty Images

“Even if taxes inch up and black market prices go down, an eighth of weed is still the same price — if not cheaper — as it was through a weed dealer in 2014,” wrote Herbert Fuego for the Denver Westword. “That’s good enough for most people who don’t smoke every day, and heavy users now find the most reliable concentrates at dispensaries.”

Other cannabis industry officials admit that the black market pot trade is probably going to stick around a while. “I don’t think we’re ever completely going to eliminate the illicit market, I think that’s probably unrealistic,” Steve Hoffman of the Massachusetts Cannabis Commission told Politico.

The real cause of the tenacious black market pot trade isn’t high taxes. It’s nationwide prohibition. Once the federal government legalizes it like alcohol and tobacco — something Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is trying to do — more states will jump on board the trend, if for no other reason than the tax revenue. Schumer’s plan comes with a 25% tax rate, which some states worry will cause financial hardships. “If a national market is not rolled out carefully and in stages, large companies, particularly existing tobacco-focused companies, will be able to move into new markets immediately, displacing and pushing out smaller players,” wrote Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser

It will be these large corporations, however, that stand the best chance at competing with a tax-free black market.

In the end, adult-use marijuana laws in every state are the only way to effectively combat the black market. As long as there is a spot of prohibition, there will be an opportunity for criminal organizations to capitalize. Even when fully legal, just like with alcohol at the end of federal prohibition, illicit operations will continue to hang around for a while. Eventually, though, the people will pay to get their pot legally and the black market will become almost nonexistent. Almost.

Eating This Food May Help Prevent Wrinkles

Maria Loreto

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August 27, 2021

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Eating This Food May Help Prevent Wrinkles

This popular snack has been linked to less wrinkles and better overall skin health. And you likely have it in your pantry.

Wrinkles are inevitable. While there are ways of slowing them down and caring for them, they are a natural progression of growing older, with the dermis beginning to thin as we age up. Spending long percentages of time out in the sun or engaging in behaviors like smoking, speeds up this process. But certain behaviors, like moisturizing your skin and even eating certain foods, can slow down and prevent wrinkles.

New research suggests eating almonds on a daily basis may help reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging in post menopausal women. According to Eating Well‘s assistant nutrition editor, Dr. Jessica Ball, the vitamin E in almonds is one of the reasons why they’re effective against symptoms of aging.

Almond Milk — Photo by Pezibear via Pixabay

“Vitamin E is a vitamin but it’s also an antioxidant,” she said. “This means it can help protect cells, including skin cells, from free radical damage. This not only improves the skin’s appearance as we age by reducing wrinkles and evening out pigmentation, but also it helps reduce the damage that can lead to skin cancer.”

The study, published in the journal Nutrients, was conducted by researchers from the University of California, who looked into the effects of consuming almonds and their effect on wrinkles, skin pigmentation, sebum production and skin hydration on women with Fitzpatrick skin type I and II. (This skin classification simply describes people’s complexion and their reaction to sunlight. For example, type I refers to people with pale white skin, blue/green eyes and blond/red hair.)

Researchers conducted a randomized controlled study that lasted 24 weeks, splitting participants into two groups. Women had a granola bar or a portion of almonds for snacks that amounted to 20% of their daily caloric intake. These results were then compared and analyzed for the study. Participants who snacked on almonds saw a reduction in their wrinkle severity by 16%. Unevenness in skin tone was also decreased by 20%.

While these results suggest that almonds do something for rejuvenating the skin, there are some caveats. The study was conducted on a small sample of women, who were all fair-skinned and burned easily.

With such little data, it’s difficult to know just what it is about almonds that might improve skin health. Still, there are worse things you can do than stock up on almonds. Aside from being delicious, the nut has plenty of vitamin E, which promotes eye and heart health, and much more.

Will New York’s New Governor Kathy Hochul Get Legal Cannabis Moving? She Says Yes

Marijuana Legislation

Benzinga Staff Writer

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August 27, 2021

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Will New York’s New Governor Kathy Hochul Get Legal Cannabis Moving? She Says Yes

Although it’s unclear how quickly Hochul can roll out the state’s program in view of the little groundwork done by her predecessor, she has expressed her intent to move forward with the cannabis board and other appointments.

By Maureen Meehan

New York’s 57th governor, Kathy Hochul — sworn into office this week after embattled Andrew Cuomo resigned — said she is ready to move on the state’s potentially multibillion-dollar legal cannabis program ASAP, reports The New York Post.

The Background

New York’s legal marijuana program came into being on March 31, 2021 after years of wrangling and tense negotiations.

Kathy Hochul — Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

At the time, the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) was roundly praised as among the best in the country in terms of the quantity of cannabis one can buy and possess, home grow, delivery, public consumption and social equity that includes automatic expungement and the reinvestment of up to 40% of weed revenue into communities targeted by the drug war as well as disadvantaged farmers and women.

This all sounded breathlessly exciting until everything suddenly stopped. Why?

Many New Yorkers opined that the cannabis program, like so much else in the Empire State, came to a stop or at least a long stall when Cuomo began the downward spiral toward his inglorious resignation after 10 years as governor.

Even before that, Cuomo was in a dispute with the state Senate over several issues and never nominated an executive director for the new Office of Cannabis Management nor appointees to the Cannabis Control Board. The hope was that the New York market would launch as early as spring 2022.

Enter Gov. Kathy Hochul

The former lieutenant governor, though known for being low-key (who wouldn’t be working under Cuomo?) obviously saw the writing on the wall when she tweeted in January 2021 that “It’s time to finally legalize recreational marijuana and create an equitable adult-use cannabis program that generates much-needed revenue for New York.”

And now Hochul’s chance has come.

Although it’s unclear how quickly Hochul can roll out the state’s program in view of the precious little groundwork done by her predecessor, the governor has expressed her intent to move forward with the cannabis board and other appointments, the Post reported.

The issue will be part of a private meeting to be held next week with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a staunch supporter of cannabis legalization.

“Nominating and confirming individuals with diverse experiences and subject matter expertise, who are representative of communities from across the state, to the Cannabis Control Board is a priority for Gov. Hochul,” the new governor’s spokesman, Jordan Bennett, told The Post.

“We look forward to working with the legislature to keep this process moving forward,” the Hochul rep said.

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

Here’s What Experts Say We Should Do To Contain The Pandemic By 2022

Culture
News

Maria Loreto

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August 27, 2021

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Here’s What Experts Say We Should Do To Contain The Pandemic By 2022

Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke with CNN and provided an estimate for the end of the pandemic.

In an interview with CNN, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that there’s a clear plan for containing the pandemic by 2022, but that it’s “up to us” to contain it.

“If we can get through this winter and vaccinate the majority, overwhelming majority of the 90 million people who have not been vaccinated, I hope we could start to get some good control in the spring of 2022,” he said.

This Vaccine Makes It More Likely To Get Breakthrough COVID-19 — Photo by CDC via Unsplash

Dr. Fauci believes that by getting the vast majority of Americans vaccinated there could be a degree of protection for the majority of the community, as soon as Spring 2022, giving us all a semblance of normalcy and return back to our everyday lives.

Knowing that plenty of predictions like this have been made in the past, Dr. Fauci was clear in explaining that, if people don’t act quickly enough, another variant like Delta could pop up and derail the whole recovery process by a few months, as it is happening now. “This is a very wily virus. We thought we were going to have that degree of freedom as we got into the Fourth of July and the summer,” he said. “Then along comes the sucker punch with the delta variant, which is extraordinary in its capability of spreading from person to person.”

New variants emerge when the virus finds new unvaccinated bodies to contaminate, propagating and surviving in ways that prove more difficult for people to recuperate.

Despite the apparent slow progression of vaccinations, the fact that the Pzifer vaccine has earned FDA approval means that more people will be open to getting their shot. States that have taken measures that promote vaccinations, like allowing indoor dining only to people who’ve been vaccinated and vaccinated events only, will all contribute to speedier vaccinations.

Why Canadian Cannabis Companies With US Operations Can Still List On NYSE & NASDAQ

Cannabusiness

Benzinga Staff Writer

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August 27, 2021

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Why Canadian Cannabis Companies With US Operations Can Still List On NYSE & NASDAQ

To say that the NYSE and NASDAQ are complicated venues for Canadian marijuana companies to break into would be an understatement. Is it worth the trouble?

By Nina Zdinjak

With cannabis still being illegal on the federal level — classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance with “no currently accepted medical use” — companies in the sector find it difficult, if not impossible, to list on major U.S. stock exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ.

Neither of these stock exchanges accepts companies that sell cannabis in the U.S., even when operating in states where adult-use consumption is now legal. That’s because federal law trumps state law. And, with the feds and the state not being in sync on this important issue, confusion and controversy pop up on a regular basis. Is medical marijuana legal in nursing homes and assisted living facilities? Can sports leagues allow athletes to medicate with cannabis? What about the V.A.?

Michigan May Get Its Own Marijuana Stock Exchange — Photo by Anna Nekrashevich from Pexels

Why Choose NYSE Or NASDAQ Over OTC? What’s The Difference?

Some might argue that a public company is a public company, no matter which stock exchange its shares are being traded on. Most companies, however, strive to place their stock on well-established and prestigious markets such as the NYSE or NASDAQ. Of course, these two exchanges are harder to get into because they have special requirements like minimum stock prices and total market capitalization.

Markets like the OTC (over-the-counter), however, have fewer restrictions. This often makes them the only choice for smaller and less well-known companies.

It should be noted that some OTC stocks can be more volatile, with swings that result in quick losses or gains. In addition, small-capitalization stocks are often less controlled and checked by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This is why investors tend to feel more secure about investing in companies that trade on the two traditionally prestigious markets.

Worth The Legwork?

To say that the NYSE and NASDAQ are complicated venues for Canadian marijuana companies to break into would be an understatement. Benzinga wanted to learn more, so we reached out to Sebastien St-Louis, president, CEO and director of Canadian cannabis company HEXO Corp (NASDAQ: HEXO). This cannabis producer is based in Gatineau, Quebec, and focuses on the recreational cannabis scene.

how to invest in marijuana stocks — Photo by Darren415/Getty Images

Last year, Hexo expanded its partnership with Molson Coors Beverage Company and formed a joint venture to launch non-alcohol hemp-derived CBD beverages in Colorado.

Previously, the two companies teamed up and created another joint venture to produce a non-alcoholic cannabis-infused beverage for the Canadian market called Truss Beverages.

But Hexo’s focus on the U.S. market doesn’t end there, especially now that cannabis legalization can be felt in the air. Thus, the cannabis giant recently finalized the acquisition of a Fort Collins, Colorado-based production facility — its first in the U.S.

“We’re very excited to have zoning from the municipality for all cannabinoids, which means that once we have federal legalization we already have the municipal requirements for eventual THC production,” St-Louis told Benzinga.

This way, the company has secured more distributorships in Fort Collins, incorporated its ‘Powered by Hexo’ solutions and is preparing the ground for possible federal legalization.

Regarding the recent Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and fellow Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore), St-Louis called the draft bill “certainly ambitious.”

While Hexo’s CEO is encouraged by the language of legalization in the bill, he believes that due to the complexity of the process it could be another three years before the process is complete. Not keen to wait that long, St-Louis said, “we are actively pursuing a structure that would allow us to enter the market in a legal fashion faster than the full-blown legalization.”

After all, some 80% of U.S. adults already have access to legal cannabis on a state-by-state basis, St-Louis noted.

Legal Activities And Hyper Compliance Are The Key

To make all things work, have U.S. operations and be listed on the NASDAQ, a company must be “hyper compliant.”

“Well, we’re doing it legally, and that’s not easy, but we’re only dealing in legal substances and hemp. So, everything at Fort Collins is actually sourced from hemp-derived CBD. So, we’re not touching the THC molecule until full legalization,” St-Louis explained.

person using phone and laptop computer — Photo by Austin Distel via Unsplash

And that seems to be the key. Sticking to hemp until U.S. laws change.

Being compliant with all government regulations and having a super technical approach have enabled Hexo to be a legal entity to operate in the U.S. and still be listed on a major stock exchange.

High Goals In $10B Worth Canadian Market, Focus On U.S.

The company is dead serious about its future and expansion strategy, having made several acquisitions, with the most recently announced being the purchase of Canadian cannabis producer Redecan for $925 million in cash and stock.

In a few years, the Canadian market could be worth up to $10 billion, and St-Louis believes it will be dominated by three top players. He is aiming for Hexo to be one of them, and that’s why the company is making important consolidation moves.

“At the moment, on a consolidated basis, we have more market share than the next leading incumbent,” St-Louis said pointing out that Hexo already sells “more dollars of cannabis products in Canada than Tilray (NASDAQ: TLRY).”

Trying to grow more value for its shareholders, the company is aiming to reach a 30% share in Canada, which St-Louis believes is within reach. At the moment, Hexo’s share in Canada stands at around 17%.

Pushing to reach that goal in the next few years, the company’s merger and acquisition strategy is now looking towards the U.S.

While the company has all the licenses needed to export to Europe, St-Louis explained to Benzinga that its current strategy around Europe is to closely monitor and be ready for the adult-use market.

“We’re not aggressively pursuing the medical market in Europe today. We think that market is overly saturated and, much like we did in Canada, we’re going to focus on the recreational use when it opens up.”

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

Will Work Weed Drug Testing End

Terry Hacienda

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August 27, 2021

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The federal government’s powers have shrunk significantly in relation to maintaining the plant’s prohibition status.

The vast majority of Americans are in favor of cannabis legalization, and a large chunk of the population live in cannabis-friendly states. This means there are more people who have a legal right to consume cannabis within their state, but could potentially run into trouble with their place of employment. With the mainstreaming of marijuana, will work weed drug testing end. No one taste for alcohol use and with legalization, will it go away?

To understand this, we need to dive into the nature of cannabis-testing and why it became the standard. We also will be addressing what these new canna-friendly norms currently means for multi-state businesses — especially when it comes to company policy.

What’s the reasoning behind workplace testing?

Before we can jump into the future of workplace testing, we need to first take a look at when it originally started. According to the ABA, the US corporate culture got its ‘hard-on’ for workplace drug testing during the Raegan administration.

You know the movie-star turned president who helped birth D.A.R.E and escalate the war on drugs. Raegan mandated that federal employees undergo drug testing in order to be employed by the government. Shortly after, the private sector did the same.

The reason to justify this shift in policy was, “pre-work drug testing increases workplace safety and productivity”.

Of course, in the 1980s you could say stuff like that, pay a few scientists to rig up some circumstantial “evidence” to support their premise and, presto-change-o, you’ve got yourself a national policy embedded into the very fabric of capitalism.

The new drug testing companies that arose to satisfy the demand for testing, drug kits, and everything associated with the practice were ecstatic. They had a new seemingly endless revenue stream backed up by government incentives.

Even if someone came and empirically proved that cannabis does not decrease workplace safety and that on average cannabis consumers take fewer sick days than their non-smoking counterparts.

By this time, there was money to be made and both Uncle Sam and Corporate Carl were groping American freedom while claiming that it was all for their benefit!

Fortunately, those kinds of things never happen in 2021…don’t they?

Oops – drugs won!

The 1980s and the 1990s were the “good years” if you ask a Drug Warrior. “Drug warriors” — as they liked to call themselves — were people who actively profited from the War on Drugs, whether you’re talking about local law enforcement, to every federal agency politicians could invent.

That’s when they could be “tough on crime” by busting non-violent drug users, while not solving crime where it mattered most. You know, like human trafficking, murders, and rapes.

illinois pot offenders how to get your marijuana offense wiped clean — Photo by FatCamera/Getty Images

As long as they had a few red-eyed Rasta’s sitting behind bars, they were going to get money from Uncle Sam, and eventually the military’s old toys.

However, during the 1980s the Aids Pandemic was in full swing and it turned out that a little plant known as cannabis really helped sufferers with a condition called Aids Wasting Syndrome. It also allegedly helped with pain management, cancer, glaucoma, etc.

Suddenly, being tough on crime meant attacking medical patients with a tank and well, the optics would certainly ruin any argument in favor of sustaining such a policy. But by this time it was too late; people were finding medical relief in cannabis, and eventually a few states began legalizing it for medical purposes.

Fast forward a few decades and more than half of U.S. adults have tried marijuana. It’s still illegal on a federal level, but the federal government’s powers have shrunk significantly in relation to maintaining the plant’s prohibition status.

Once the federal government removes cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)

This is when things will get interesting. Even now, under modern cannabis laws, companies are having a hard time knowing how to respond. The government might have competently implemented these laws and instilled it into corporate culture, but their incompetence at rectifying their mistakes have left chaos for the time being.

However, eventually the federal government will have to give into the will of the people. This means legalization is inevitable.

At this point, testing people for cannabis would be problematic and the odds of companies maintaining employment will be staggeringly low.

This is because cannabis can stay in your system for up to 90 days (mostly about 30-days or a few weeks if you smoke rarely). This means that someone could have smoked a joint last week at a birthday party and then can get fired a week later for “having cannabis in their system”.

Cannabis For Mental Health In The Workplace — How Canada Is Showing Us The Way — Photo by Campaign Creators via Unsplash

If the premise of making the workplace safer never testing for impairment, but only for the presence of an actual drug…well I hate to say that America got swindled by her politicians.

And this leads us to where we are today, in a limbo leaving companies scratching their heads.

A few things a company can do to cope with the times

According to the ABA, there are a couple of things companies can do now from a legal perspective. Firstly, adapt different codes based on regions. If you’re in a state with stricter laws, you can create “state specific” clauses.

The other alternative is to simply not continue with such an archaic practice. Perhaps, we should judge people not by the contents of their urine sample, but by their productivity and character instead.

Bottom line

As we get to the end of this joint, we wrap it up with a quick reminder that one of these days you’re going to be able to buy weed in a Seven Eleven. Sure, it won’t be the best bud, but it will get the job done.

Cannabis has already entered into the mainstream zeitgeist. Hell, if Iron Mike Tyson is smoking the Cheeba and running a cannabis farm, you know that the people have smoken!

Let’s get rid of this intrusive and humiliating practice of screening people for drugs. Besides, drugs don’t tell you who a person is. If you want that, just check their browser history!

Exercise May Improve Memory And Delay Alzheimers

Maria Loreto

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August 26, 2021

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Exercise May Improve Memory And Delay Alzheimers

Exercise has long been associated with brain and memory benefits, but a new study is pivotal in understanding why.

A new study conducted on mice shows that a hormone produced by exercise can boost and improve your memory. One of the hormones produced, called irisin, promotes healthy brain development and can improve Alzheimer’s disease in rodents. Previous research conducted on humans shows that they also produce this hormone, and that exercise could curb dementia and memory loss that occurs due to aging.

Published in the Nature Journal, the study was conducted by comparing two groups of mice; one that was unable to produce the irisin and another that produced normal amounts.

5 Memory Boosters That Actually Work — Photo by Robina Weermeijer via Unsplash

Mice were instructed to run for a few days, with the mice that produced irisin performing well on rodent tests of memory and learning. Mice that were unable to produce irisin had more issues with performance, confirming the researcher’s theory that irisin is pivotal when it comes to experiencing brain benefits due to working out.

Despite not mentioning how many hours per day the mice ran, the study found that all mice who worked out showed more neurons than usual, with the mice that produced no irisin developing cells that had lower synapses and were overall less effective. Once irisin was introduced to these mice, their performance increased considerably, with rodents of all ages showing boosts in performance, including senior rodents with Alzheimer’s.

Exercise has long been associated with brain and memory benefits, but this study is pivotal in understanding why. The hormone irisin plays a key role in terms of benefits experienced via working out. Per the New York Times, the hormone might also be developed as a drug in the near future, helping treat diseases like Alzheimer’s and slowing the decline of brain health.

While there’s still a long way to go in terms of understanding how irisin impacts humans, this study is an important first step in understanding the connection that exists between brain and memory health and working out.

Research Finds Multiple Benefits Of Rare Cannabinoids

Cannabis

Sarah Johns

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August 26, 2021

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Research Finds Multiple Benefits Of Rare Cannabinoids

Rare cannabinoids work as supplements to endocannabinoids, and so far there have been more than 50 clinical studies about their benefits.

Despite the lack of significant research dollars to the health advantages of cannabis, researchers are beginning to understand the cannabinoids found in the plant go way beyond those that most people are familiar. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive cannabinoid in the marijuana plant, and cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive compound that is believed to relieve pain, reduce anxiety and induce sleep. Now research finds multiple benefits of rare cannabinoids.

But with more than 200 known cannabinoids and an increasing amount of research, cannabis consumers are increasingly interested in what’s known as “rare cannabinoids,” even though it’s still unclear what benefits they may have.

These Are The Next Big Cannabinoids To Go Mainstream — Photo by CBD Infos via Unsplash

Cannabinoids trigger beneficial effects through interacting with the human body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which regulates sleep, appetite, mood, memory, production and fertility. Endocannabinoids are molecules the body makes to keep internal functions moving properly. They connect with endocannabinoid receptors that are found throughout the body to notify the ECS that it needs to step in. Enzymes break down endocannabinoids after they’ve carried out their mission.

Rare cannabinoids work as supplements to endocannabinoids, and so far there have been more than 50 clinical studies about their benefits.

Rare cannabinoids such as cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) are thought to have more beneficial medical properties than THC and CBD and don’t contain the psychoactive properties of THC.

The research and development team at Grove Inc., a Henderson, Nevada-based innovator in the hemp and wellness industries, manufactures a full line of plant-based products with a focus on sustainability and customer satisfaction. The company’s team of organic farmers, biochemists, organic chemists, mixologists and food scientists are pioneers in the wellness industry.

While Grove has been focused on extracting CBD from hemp, it’s researching how some of the rare cannabinoids can be used to promote wellness.

CBG, for example, is considered the “mother of cannabinoids” and is believed to fight inflammation, pain and nausea and may even slow the reproduction of cancer cells.

Studies have found that CBN, a cannabinoid that’s created when THC ages, may be a strong antibacterial agent that could be used to fight off infections the usual antibiotics can’t heal. It’s also been shown to stimulate the appetite, relieve glaucoma and reduce inflammation.

Scientists Discover New Cannabinoid That Could Be More Potent Than THC — Photo by Yarygin/Getty Images

CBN may even be a neuroprotectant that can be used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called Lou Gehrig’s disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it.

THCV is being studied as a remedy for weight loss and management of obesity. It is believed to decrease the appetite, increase satiety and boost metabolism. It’s believed to be effective in controlling type 2 diabetes.

Grove’s August 5, 2021 acquisition of VitaMedica, an online seller of supplements, puts it squarely in a position to compete in the vitamin and nutraceutical market to address consumers’ health and wellness needs as it delves deeper into introducing rare cannabinoids into its products. It combines Grove’s innovation in production with VitaMedica’s product line, which has been recommended by thousands of doctors and served more than 1 million patients, creating a network that Grove can tap into for clinical trials, studies, and continued research of the hemp plant.

“Our team at Grove gained a great company with an amazing product line that has generated more than $10 million in sales over the past several years and we believe has the potential for exponential growth from here,” Grove CEO Allan Marshall said at the time of the acquisition. “We at Grove are most excited about the team members we gained with the addition of Dr. (David) Rahm, Yvette LaGarde and their entire team. I believe the people you get when acquiring a company are of critical importance to the combined company’s success.”

Can You Blame Marijuana For Your Cannabis Addiction

Terry Hacienda

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August 26, 2021

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Can You Blame Marijuana For Your Cannabis Addiction

It isn’t really the substance that is addictive, but your relationship or the narrative that you have constructed around the substance that is addictive.

Depending on who you ask, cannabis can be very addictive or not addictive at all.

If you ask psychiatrists and rehabilitation specialists, they will refer to “Cannabis Use Disorder” as proof that cannabis is addictive. But if you ask lifelong cannabis consumers like myself to quit cold turkey for a month or two, we would be able to do so without breaking a sweat.

This brings us to an importance cross road: Is it the substance that makes the addict, or does the addict choose the substance?

is cannabis addiction real — Photo by Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash

My greatest addiction didn’t have anything to do with substances

I could cite the various different studies on different substances, compare addictiveness qualities and argue that one drug is more addictive than another.

I wouldn’t be wrong.

However, as someone who can become quite obsessive with strategy challenges; one of the most difficult addictions I had to deal with had nothing to do with a substance.

I struggled with excessive gaming for years and while I wasn’t physically consuming anything, it was one of the hardest addictions for me to break.

I found quitting cigarettes after 15 years of use was easier than quitting gaming.

Now, did I have a justifiable reason to blame the game for my addiction? Or was it me; the addict choosing a vehicle of obsessive compulsion?

After having quit two very different addictions, I can surely say that while the substance may have addictive qualities, it’s always the addict pulling the trigger.

USPS Suggests PACT Act Compliance Exception For Mailing Hemp And CBD Products — Photo by nd3000/Getty Images

Are you blaming the addict?

In a way, yes! The addict definitely is the single most important factor in any type of addiction. The problem is that the addict loves to shift blame.

When I was excessively gaming, I would reason different justification for my actions to avoid the very real issues that was plaguing me.

The addiction was simply an “easier choice” for my unconscious mind to process than to deal with the underlying issues. Thus, in essence, all addiction is a means of escapism.

Unless you are ready to deal with these underlying issues; the addiction will only continue to manifest in your life in order to avoid facing up to your hidden pains.

Addiction is mental malware that requires an anti-virus

The thing about an addict is that the addict knows what they are doing is not beneficial to their bottom line, but they do it anyway!

This is because the addiction has rewritten your mental algorithms to embed itself within what you believe to be your personality.

In reality, the story of “you + your addiction” is the most compelling work of fiction you have ever created, filled with emotional nuances to convince you that “THIS IS YOUR BURDEN!”

However, it was when I quit smoking tobacco — which according to some sources put it within the same addictive levels as heroin or cocaine — that I realized that addiction is mental malware.

I read the book “EASY WAY TO QUIT SMOKING” by Alan Carr, which essentially deprograms your brain by addressing the main “reasons” why you smoke.

R.I.P. Delta-8 THC: Why States And DEA Want It Banned — Photo by Jeff W via Unsplash

The book doesn’t try to force you to quit, it simple begins to put things into perspective and in my case, before the end of the book, I threw away my pack of smokes and never looked back.

This wasn’t the first time I managed to “reboot my system” – but after this second cigarette purge I believe I am completely done with the habit forever.

What are you trying to avoid?

Understanding that it isn’t really the substance that is addictive, but your relationship or the narrative that you have constructed around the substance that is addictive.

When I managed to unravel my mind and rewrite the underlying narrative around tobacco, I enjoyed the withdrawal pangs. It was a sense of victory every time I felt like shit.

I understood that the tobacco addiction and the gaming addiction were interlaced; one helped sustain the other. When I managed to quit gaming, I was ready to let go of smoking.

But before any of this, I had to make a decision within my inner-most being about my addictions. I had to face the music and take a cold hard look at my life.

It was only when I made these internal adjustments that the addiction fell off me like it was yesterday’s news.

It’s always you — it’s never the substance!

Similarly, to the people who say “cannabis ruined my life” or “it’s because of cannabis,” you’re still missing the point.

Cannabis is a plant. It has no will of its own. Cannabis doesn’t buy itself, load itself into your pipe, light itself on fire and forces you to get high all day. That is 100% you.

Smoking More Weed Gets You Higher — Until A Point — Photo by Alex Moiseev via Unsplash

But here’s the good news. If it’s you doing it, it’s you who can undo it too!

However, to achieve this you will first need to take stock of your life. Ask the tough questions;

What in my life is so shitty that all I want to do is escape it?
What needs to change for me to be happy? Realistically?
What do I need to change in my life so I become the master of my decisions?

It’s about taking full ownership of all your problems. It’s not because of any of the excuses you can come up with. It’s not your circumstances, it’s not your trauma — it’s malware that needs to be interrupted.

The Sticky Bottom-line

If you want to blame the substance for your fuckups – you still haven’t learned the ultimate lesson of Addiction.

You’re the one in the driver seat and just as easy as you got on the ride – it’s just as easy to get off. The question is; do you really want to or does your current configuration of misery satisfy your needs enough that minimal to no effort is good enough.

But the moment you’re ready to let it all go, that change happens deep within the core of our beings. And once this choice is made, nothing can stop you — not even relapses.

This article was created in partnership with Cannabis.net

Cannabis Offers Immediate Nausea Relief, Study Shows

Benzinga Staff Writer

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August 26, 2021

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Cannabis Offers Immediate Nausea Relief, Study Shows

Study findings suggest that the vast majority of patients using cannabis as a treatment for nausea likely experience relief within a relatively short time span.

By Javier Hasse

Scientific evidence around the therapeutic benefits of cannabis continues to pile up, confirming what many had found out through years of experimentation and accumulation of anecdotal evidence.

Now, a new study conducted by team of researchers at the University of New Mexico found that cannabis flower and concentrates are effective in providing relief for the symptoms of nausea. The study reviewed data collected via the Releaf App and found that more than 96% of individuals in the study reported symptom relief. In fact, subjects disclosed a decrease in nausea severity by almost 4 points on visual analogue scale from 0-10 within an hour of consumption.

Managing Nausea With Cannabis: What You Need To Know — Photo by elenaleonova/Getty Images

Interestingly enough, symptom relief became statistically significant after only 5 minutes, and continued to increased over time.

“Our results show that cannabis is used to treat nausea with a high rate of effectiveness,” said Sarah See Stith, an economics assistant professor at UNM who co-led the study alongisde Jacob Vigil, psychology associate professor at UNM.

However, she warned, “concerns exist that its effectiveness relative to conventional options may induce high-risk populations, such as pregnant women and children, to consume cannabis.”

Understanding Nausea

Nausea is a relatively common ailment. Nonetheless, it is often difficult to treat using conventional methods like herbal remedies and prescription pharmaceuticals.

Most conventional antiemetic products have fairly mild side effects, but also tend to offer limited relief for treating nausea and are not effective for all patients. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and acupressure show little evidence of dangerous side effects, but offer limited effectiveness.

Prior to this study, the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) had already included cannabinoids in its list of the strongest available agents for chemotherapy-induced nausea. The UNM study confirmed that cannabis is an effective and fast-acting treatment for feelings of nausea.

Study Finds Marijuana 25% Stronger Now Than Five Decades Ago — Photo by Cavan Images/Getty Images

The Study In Detail

The study, titled “The Effectiveness of Common Cannabis Products for Treatment of Nausea,” was published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology.

It observed 2,220 cannabis self-administration sessions reported anonymously by 866 people who tracked their cannabis use for managing nausea in the Releaf App.

The findings suggest that the vast majority of patients using cannabis as a treatment for nausea likely experience relief within a relatively short time span.

It should be noted, however, that the level of effectiveness varies according to the characteristics of the products consumed.

The most effective products for immediate relief appear to be cannabis flower and concentrates, labeled as C. sativa or “hybrid.”
Joints were associated with greater symptom relief compared to pipes or vaporizers, although the gap narrowed over time.
High THC / low CBD ratios were generally associated with greater symptom relief in a short period of time, such as 5 minutes.
Those characteristics were less relevant closer to the hour mark.

“It’s great to provide data that helps validate anecdotal claims that have been around forever regarding the efficacy of cannabis to manage and control one’s nausea,” concluded Keenan Keeling, CEO of MoreBetter Ltd., the company behind Releaf App. “However, with the wide range of conditions that can cause nausea, it’s clear that more studies and data are needed and we look forward to contributing to these efforts.”

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

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It’s always you — it’s never the substance!

The Sticky Bottom-line

Study findings suggest that the vast majority of patients using cannabis as a treatment for nausea likely experience relief within a relatively short time span.

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The Study In Detail

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