One in four adults in the United States currently consume cannabis — or have tried some form of it in the last twelve months. That is according to information from a soon-to-be-released study conducted by market research and data analytics firm YouGov and cannabis company Cresco Labs’ Sunnyside retail brand among roughly 5,000 Americans “representative of the U.S. population.”
The 25% consumption number implies a sharp surge (56.25%) from the 16% rate reported in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health of 2018. What’s more, 23% of the self-declared cannabis consumers disclosed they had tried it for the first time over the past year. According to the study, this suggests the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with a slew of new states legalizing cannabis have accelerated the acceptance and adoption of cannabis in the U.S.
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“We were curious to learn how current conditions have impacted consumer attitudes and cannabis consumption behaviors ahead of what we expect to be an unprecedented 4/20 celebration,” said Cris Rivera, senior vice president of retail marketing and customer experience at Cresco Labs, said. “Whether it’s the stressors of a global pandemic or increased accessibility due to expanded state decriminalization, cannabis has become the leading CPG category for exploration as people flock to dispensaries to discover the range of novel formats and modern products available to them.”
Other Key Findings
The YouGov study includes a number of interesting data points around cannabis. A curious one relates to the upcoming 4/20 holiday — the unofficial day of marijuana. Per the research firm, 44% of American cannabis consumers believe April 20 should be recognized as a national holiday.
Beyond oddities, some other important findings of the study include:
44% of the parents with children under 18 who declared having used cannabis said they had tried it for the first time in the past year.
43% of seniors (aged 65 or more) who use cannabis also gave it a shot for the first time in the past year.
Consumption frequency is the same among men and women.
64% of cannabis consumers believe that if more people embraced the herb, the world would be “a better place.”
The report also looked into the reasons behind America’s cannabis use:
56% of respondents said they use cannabis to relieve anxiety and/or stress.
48% said they use it to help with sleep.
48% consume it to enhance moods.
Anxiety and stress are the top reasons for cannabis consumption across all different age groups.
Preferences by region:
People in the Northeast are the most likely (64%) to consume cannabis for anxiety/stress relief.
People in the West Coast and the South consume cannabis socially more often than the rest of the country.
People in the South are more likely (32%) to consume cannabis for intimacy
People in the Midwest are consuming more (61%) edibles and beverages than the rest of America.
Some 4/20 Data
“I think this year’s 4/20 is shaping up to be a perfect storm with increased consumption over the last year, more people being vaccinated and comfortable being around others, as well as a significant number of new consumers entering the cannabis market,” said Jason Erkes, CCO of Cresco Labs.
57% of cannabis consumers believe 4/20 is a day for rest, relaxation, and wellness.
50% of people aged 21 to 54 said they will “try or will consider trying” a new product on 4/20 this year.
60% of cannabis consumers aged 21 to 34 disclosed plan to try a new form of cannabis on 4/20.
25% of men said they plan to try find deals and sales on 4/20.
20% of female respondents said they are planning a day of wellness.
53% of cannabis consumers plan to celebrate 4/20 in company this year, either virtually or in person.
11% of Americans aged 21 or more anticipate celebrating 4/20 this month.
“Our study with YouGov showed that 25% of all cannabis consumers tried cannabis for the first time this past year which means there are a lot of new consumers to celebrate and partake in observing the day. In addition, more than half of those surveyed said they would try a new product or form in their observance of 4/20 which should certainly help fuel retails sales,” voiced Erkes.
Rivera concluded, “We are on a mission to normalize and professionalize the shopping experience so consumers feel comfortable and confident adding cannabis to their everyday wellness. We believe that 4/20 should be a mainstream and inclusive holiday, and this data set shows that people all over America are planning to embrace it in new ways this year.”
Wine is associated with many health benefits, but people who suffer from this medical condition might want to avoid it.
Wine is one of the few alcoholic drinks that, when consumed measuredly, has been associated with positive health benefits. Consuming wine has been linked with lower cholesterol, positive heart health, and more.
But there’s a negative side effect that can appear when people with a certain medical condition consume it.
According to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, there’s a link between wine consumption and asthma attacks. The study, which looked into the effects of alcoholic beverages and asthma attacks, surveyed over 400 participants and found that 33 percent of them experienced asthma attacks while drinking on at least two separate occasions.
Per the study, wine was the most frequent trigger, with 30% of participants reporting asthma attacks after consuming it. These attacks are usually preceded by symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, facial swelling, sweating, and more. They can occur when taking the first drink or a couple of drinks in. Most medical experts suggest stopping as soon as these symptoms appear since they can quickly grow complicated.
Healthline reports that wine affects people with asthma due to two ingredients that are present in it: histamines and sulfites. Histamines are produced when yeast and bacteria interact, when the alcohol ferments. They’re especially prominent in red wine, which is why this type is riskier for people who suffer from asthma and allergies. Sulfites are also sensitive to people with asthma, with up to 10 percent of people with asthma reacting to it.
While giving up wine might sound pretty terrible, people who struggle with asthma should be careful when they consume it, especially if their wine of choice is red.
Asthma varies widely from person to person. In some cases, it’s easy to manage, increasing when exposed to certain triggers or when exerting themselves. For others, asthma is a serious condition, having frequent asthma attacks that can even occur while sleeping. It’s up to every person to test and see what works for them and what doesn’t.
Slowly cutting back on alcohol with the help of a medical professional and CBD is an effective strategy that can save one’s life.
These days, there are numerous reasons why you should be cutting back on your alcohol consumption.
For one, we’ve long known that it causes several illnesses including heart disease and cancer and two, with the pandemic, alcohol can compromise your immune system. During the pandemic, so many people took up the habit of drinking at home, during Zoom parties, and these so-called “quarantinis” can have a majorly negative impact on our health — at a time when we need it more than ever.
Excessive consumption of booze can turn around our lives for the worse. It can cause domestic abuse problems, and affect our families as well as personal relationships. However, a tip over the edge can turn a booze lover into a full-fledged alcoholic, which is already advanced abuse of alcohol.
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If you’re having a hard time cutting back on your drinks, new research supports the hypothesis that cannabis can help — in more ways than one.
A new study released by University of Colorado researchers, which was published in the medical journal, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, sheds light on cannabidiol (CBD). For the study, they analyzed CBD as well as THC and hybrid strains. They found that participants who consumed cannabis strains high in CBD “drank fewer drinks per drinking day, had fewer alcohol use days, and had fewer alcohol and cannabis co-use days compared with the other groups.”
Meanwhile, study participants who consumed hybrid and THC strains didn’t show any changes when their drinking patterns were analyzed. This showed a clear correlation between CBD and decreased alcohol consumption. “The present study lends preliminary support to the notion that plant-based CBD may be associated with decreased alcohol consumption among regular cannabis users and suggests that it may be feasible for regular cannabis users to switch to a higher CBD, lower THC content cannabis strain for the purposes of reducing their alcohol intake,” says the study authors.
Other Studies Provide Supporting Evidence
The study’s co-authors also released separate data earlier this year in January, which was published in Addiction, which showed similar results. “Across the sample, individuals drank approximately 29 percent fewer drinks and were 2.06 times less likely to have a binge-drinking episode on days that cannabis was used compared with days cannabis was not used. These patterns were observed in males, females and the infrequent and frequent cannabis use groups.”
“Heavy drinkers engaged in treatment to reduce their alcohol consumption who also use cannabis appear to increase their cannabis use on days when they reduce their alcohol consumption,” they concluded.
Another review, this time conducted by researchers from France and Belgium in 2019, found that CBD was helpful to “facilitate drinking reduction,” the study authors write. In addition, they found that CBD “may provide idiosyncratic protection to the liver and brain, which could reduce the development and impact of alcohol-related liver disease and alcohol-related brain injury.”
For the study, the researchers analyzed 26 older studies that were published from 1974 and June 2018 which were focused on examining how animals who were given ethanol, were impacted by CBD administration. They discovered several studies revealing how CBD was effective in decreasing alcohol consumption. “Experimental studies converge to find that CBD reduces the overall drinking in animal models of AUD by reducing ethanol intake, motivation for ethanol, relapse, and by decreasing anxiety and impulsivity,” they write.
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They also found that in some studies, the mice who were regularly given CBD has less risks of relapsing from the ethanol even during periods of stress. Because of this, the authors write that CBD “could have a significant action on drinking levels in human subjects with AUD.”
“CBD could have many more positive effects in subjects with AUD, including antiepileptic, cardioprotective, anxiolytic, or analgesic ones. Human studies are thus crucially needed to explore the many prospects of CBD in AUD and related conditions,” they concluded.
Cannabis Legalization Is Key
In the United States alone, almost 14 million adults have a problem with alcoholism or abuse alcohol. More than that also engage in risky alcohol consumption that could result in abuse later on. Meanwhile, more than 3 million teenagers in America aged 14 to 17 have a problem with alcohol.
That’s why legalizing cannabis is extremely important in helping people nationwide battle alcoholism.
To support this, there have been numerous studies that point to legalization. One study conducted by researchers from Georgia State University and the University of Connecticut found that access to legal medical marijuana is beneficial for that. The study authors analyzed the relationship between retail alcohol sales and MMJ laws in over 2,000 counties around the country from 2006 to 2015. They found that trends in booze sales in medical friendly sates compared to those in states where cannabis is still illegal found that there was a reduction of 15% on average in monthly alcohol sales in legal counties.
“We find that marijuana and alcohol are strong substitutes… States legalizing medical marijuana use experience significant decreases in the aggregate sale of alcohol, beer and wine. Moreover, the effects are not short-lived, with significant reductions observed up to 24 months after the passage of the law.”
If alcoholism is left untreated, people can end up dying. Other withdrawal symptoms include seizures, shock, headaches, hallucination, irritability, fatigue, fever, depression, and anxiety, among many others. Slowly cutting back with the help of a medical professional and CBD is an effective strategy that can save one’s life.
You can have fun vaping without worrying about any side effects similar to smoking; it is that safe.
It has been more than a decade since the invention of vaping. There is still a lot of debate about whether vaping is better than smoking. Vaping has been a new thing for some countries, especially its concept. Many people even see vaping as the same thing as smoking. Vapes are also known as e-cigarettes, and they are now used all over the world. Vaping is not similar to smoking at all.
Vape’s demand is increasing day by day; in almost every country, people are vaping rather than smoking. However, some still do not believe in the benefits of vaping. They just need to know these 10 benefits of vaping to change their mindset.
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Has Less Dangerous Chemicals
Normal cigarettes are made with many dangerous chemicals and toxins such as nicotine, arsenic, lead, cyanide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and more. Research has determined that cigarettes contain at least 24 chemical compounds that are very harmful to the human body. In Australia, about 50 deaths are happening each day just because of smoking. Smoking can even lead to cancer. Vape has e-liquid, which only contains VG, PG, flavoring, which is FDA-approved. Besides, vapes come with fruit, spicy, sweet, and many other flavors. It makes the experience more enjoyable for its consumer.
Not Hazardous to Health
Smoking a lot can cause lung and mouth cancer and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, but vaping does not cause any such thing. It’s been many years since scientists have proven smoking is injurious to health. Many people have fallen victim to some incurable disease due to chain-smoking. It happens because of the combustion of tobacco. But vaping has no such hazardous compounds in it.
Nicotine is one of the primary compounds in a cigarette. Nicotine is known to be very addictive. Although some vapes might contain nicotine, Australia has restricted nicotine in their commercially available vapes. So vapes without nicotine are the way to stay safe and healthy.
Assists in Quitting Smoking
In today’s world, we have many e-cigarette users who vape to quit their smoking habit. There is much evidence that many regular chain smokers were successful in quitting their bad smoking habit. They just had to vape for three months, and it helped them cease smoking completely; they were totally free from smoking addiction after those months.
As previously said, there are various flavors available in the vape, whereas cigarettes only have tobacco. The vape juice is now accessible in many different flavors to match the user’s taste preference. Many vape users love flavors like strawberry, menthol, apple, cherry, chocolate, caramel, etc. That is why e-cigarettes are less boring than regular cigarettes. There are always the most preferred vape pens each year.
Less Dangerous for Others
Smoking is very harmful to the user and also to the people around the smoker. This term is also known as passive smoking or second-hand smoke. Passive smokers have a very high chance of getting coronary disease or worse, cancer. This is why vaping is very safe, and it does not impact others. Moreover, an experiment of the CDC has confirmed finding vitamin E in the body of vape users.
Safe for The Environment
We all know for a fact that smoke can be very bad for the environment. The same goes for cigarette smoke. Many fire incidents are caused just for discarded cigarette butts. These tobacco cigarettes threaten our health and also play a big part in air pollution and greenhouse effects. On the other hand, vaping does not cause any of these issues. Vaping has no nicotine and tobacco in it, which makes it very environment-friendly and healthier than smoking.
Vaping is convenient to use, but it depends on the local laws whether you are allowed to vape out in the open. In some countries, vaping is also looked at as a bad smoking habit, and they think it has the same passive smoking effects. However, vapes do not have any bad smelling smoke and do not cause passive smoking effects. Many cities now accept vaping, and people can use vape machines out in the open.
Not Very Costly
Despite vape being good for health and the environment, it is much cheaper than smoking. Although you have to buy the e-cigarette, the vape juices are way less expensive than highly-taxed tobacco products. On the opposite side, smoking is a costly addiction. A casual chain-smoker uses a whole pack of cigarettes per day, and it costs them about $14,000 per year, whereas e-cigarettes will cost you about $720 per year only. It proves that tobacco addicts spend more on all those cigarettes. The vape juices are quite cheap, and they are available in online vape shops. These online vape shops ship their products in many states, or you can get yourself vape juices from local vape stores. In short, vaping is not as costly as smoking.
Another benefit of vaping is that it has no smoke, ash, or any remnants. Also, you are free from worrying about bad odor, tobacco breath, and ashes. That is why vaping is far safer. It has a beautiful, flavorful smell, where cigarettes have a very bad tobacco smell and give you bad-smelling breath.
Final Words
Stopping the smoking habit is tough, and it deteriorates the smoker’s health. But vaping can be a lifesaver for the chain-smokers to quit their tobacco smoking addiction. Vaping is now accepted socially because it is safer and more viable than smoking cigarettes. You can have fun vaping without worrying about any side effects similar to smoking; it is that safe. This is the reason why vaping is the best alternative to smoking.
A Gallup poll suggests that Americans have been using more marijuana as the plant has earned legal status across the country.
A new poll shows that Americans have been using more and more cannabis over the years. In fact, the poll, conducted by Gallup since the 1970s, reveals that 1 in 10 Americans actively smoke cannabis today and that almost half of them have at least tried it.
For decades, the number of cannabis users has stayed steady at 30%. As cannabis has earned legal status in a variety of states, the numbers have risen, with an average of 49% of respondents answering “yes” when asked if they’d ever tried marijuana, according to this most recent poll.
A deeper look at the study finds that while more people have experimented with marijuana, consistent cannabis use has remained steady over the years. Twelve percent of respondents said they currently smoke cannabis, the same result as the previous year’s survey. It also revealed details about the demographics of people who’ve tried marijuana at least once. Half of Millennials said they’d tried cannabis between 2015-2021, with Gen X and Baby Boomers coming in at 49% and 50% respectively.
The biggest differences appear when discussing the number of active users. Millennials are the demographic most likely to say they’re active users, with 20%, followed by GenXers (11%) and Baby Boomers (9%).
“The percentage of Americans who have tried marijuana has steadily climbed in recent decades,” said Gallup. “Soon it should reach 50%, but it may not get much higher than that given the rates of experimentation have been steady around 50% in Gen Xers and among baby boomers. Half of millennials have also tried marijuana, and with many in that group approaching middle age, that proportion seems unlikely to increase in future years. Gen Z’s incidence of trying marijuana will likely determine the trajectory of the trendline.”
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Another interesting discovery made by the poll is that people don’t need to be cannabis users in order to support its legalization. Sixty-eight percent of respondents said they favored the legalization of the drug, marking it the highest percentage in the poll’s history.
While there are certain caveats in the poll — like the fact that they refer to cannabis consumption as “smoking,” possibly alienating consumers — it does paint a picture about how cannabis use is evolving and losing some of its stereotypes and misconceptions.
The COVID pandemic has enabled celebrities with new ways to monetize their brands, such as podcasts, Twitch performances, OnlyFans content and cannabis.
Cannabis and celebrities seem to go increasingly hand in hand.
Some celebs have decided to become part of the industry as brand ambassadors, while others have launched their own brands. Musicians, actors and athletes have expressed their love for the plant.
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But why now? Is it because the stigma around cannabis has faded more than ever before? Or, is it because of industry growth, which thus presents lucrative opportunities?
1933 Industries Inc. CEO Paul Rosen told Benzinga that “the industry has crossed a tipping point from an object of curiosity to a recognized credible emerging asset class promising the potential of high growth.”
He explained that the COVID pandemic has enabled celebrities with new ways to monetize their brands, such as podcasts, Twitch performances and content subscription service OnlyFans.
For most celebrities, money is one important motivator.
“This is just another way for a celebrity to leverage their own brand equity and to be crass to make money,” Rosen says. “They all have their own reasons, but behind the individual narratives the one common denominator is money, which as far as I can tell celebrities like as much as anyone else.”
But there’s at least one celebrity who is more spiritually motivated by cannabis.
Carlos Santana
Last week, guitar legend Carlos Santana spoke withBenzinga bout his creating high-quality cannabis and CBD brands via a partnership with Left Coast Ventures. In October, Mirayo by Santana — a line of cannabis products influenced by musician’s Latin heritage and dedication to spiritual well-being — was launched.
Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Santana grew up familiar with the plant’s healing properties, thanks to his mother. Throughout his career, he talked about the benefits of cannabis. From alleviating pain and stiffness to awaking consciousness and creativity.
It is certain, Santana’s approach to cannabis is spiritual.
“Cannabis is a window or a door to a different awareness of consciousness,” Santana says. He created Mirayo, which means “my ray” to help people find the light inside them.
Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell, star of Happy Place and Disney’s Frozen, teamed up with Cronos Group Inc. to launch a CBD skincare brand Happy Dance.
“I don’t need another paycheck, so how are we going to do good in the community here,” she said. The Veronic Mars actress is reportedly engaged in all steps of creating the new brand.
Photo by Christopher Polk/Staff/Getty Images
She also chose to collaborate with A New Way of Life Entry Project, an organization that provides housing and pro bono legal services for women restoring their lives after prison.
The three initial products are cruelty-free and vegan, with affordable price tags. The company is donating one percent of profits from all products sold on the brand’s website to A New Way of Life Entry Project.
“As a working mom, I turned to CBD skincare as a way to turn down the volume of my life and CBD products have since become an essential part of my self-care routine,” Bell says.
In 2020, many celebrities looked after Santana or those who joined the space even before him — such as Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and Snoop Dogg and Karan Wadhera.
Celebrity Newcomers
In July of 2020,Killer Mike and El-P — the rappers known collectively as Run the Jewels — partnered with a lifestyle and cannabis brand Cookies, and its sister brand Lemonnade, to launch its first cannabis strain Ooh La la.
In June, Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man launched a cannabis business with a goal to encourage more black ownership join the industry. The company was named Tical (like his 1994 solo debut album) which stands for “Taking Into Consideration All Lives” and it succeeded to raise $300,000 for its initial launch.
Timed to coincide with the premiere of her latest stand up special, “Chelsea Handler: Evolution,” Sweet Flower joined forced with the comedian to introduce the Evolution Kit, a curated set featuring Handler’s favorite cannabis products.
At least two Academy Award Winners have attached their names to cannabis brands.
Nicole Kidman, who won Best Actress for The Hours, became the first-ever brand ambassador of The Sera Labs Inc., a health, wellness and beauty company known for its CBD products. Sera Labs was acquired by CURE Pharmaceuticals Holdings for $20 million. Kidman “easily” agreed to endorse the company’s topical products.
“With my injury last year, I experienced the benefit of CBD wellness products firsthand,” she shared.
Goop CEO Gwyneth Paltrow, who won the Best Actress Oscar for Shakespeare In Love, invested in cannabis beverage brand Cann. Other big names joined her including Ruby Rose, Rebel Wilson, Darren Criss, Baron Davis, Tove Lo, Casey Neistat, and Calesha Murray (aka Bre-Z).
Paltrow said that cannabis is a “hero ingredient of the future.”
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Staff/Getty Images
Grammy Award-winning artist and radio personality Khaled Mohamed Khaled— better known as DJ Khaled — recently partnered with CBD company Endexx Corp.to launch a new CBD company with products.
“I was drawn to Endexx Corporation because they’re an innovative company that has proven they have the keys to deliver consistently, top of the line, high-quality products,” Khaled said.
Industry Veterans Also Grabbed Headlines
Some celebrities joined the industry earlier, but made some major business moves this year.
For example, music industry mogul Shawn Carter, known widely as Jay-Z, joined the newly formed cannabis company last year. The venture was formed via a partnership between Caliva, Left Coast Ventures, Subversive Capital Acquisition Corp. and Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company. The company now operates as The Parent Company and trades in the U.S. as TPCO Holding Corp.
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Back in February 2018, the “Domestic Goddess” Martha Stewart took an advisory role at Canopy Growth Corp to help with developing a new line of CBD products across various categories. This year, Stewart launched several CBD products, including a holiday-inspired CBD gummies line.
An American actor, comedian, and musician, known for starting in According to Jim, and Saturday Night Live, Jim Belushi joined the cannabis industry back in 2015 as a legal cannabis farmer with a 48-plant crop.
Belushi told Benzinga that his mission in the industry is “to break even — because the purpose, the power of this plant, serves the greater good.”
Courtesy image
In 2020, Belushi’s Farm partnered with Curaleaf Holdings Inc. to create a vape pen for the Oregon cannabis market.
Former NBA star and four-time champion, John Salley is no stranger to the cannabis industry. He has taken up several cannabis ventures in the previous years. Salley, who is also a member of the Benzinga Cannabis Advisory Council this year announced his plans to create a health insurance package for cannabis enterprises, their workers, and cannabis users.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Staff/Getty Images
“We’ve literally got to a point where we can insure cannabis smokers and cannabis companies,” Salley said.
Furthermore, this October, Salley became the vice president of business development at CBD-concentrated wellness company, The Anthos Group. At The Anthos Group, Salley will help launch a new brand focused on the needs of athletes.
Does A Name Make A Difference?
One question that comes up with this subject is: How important is a famous face behind a brand and does it make a difference?
“They are celebrities for sure, but then there are the rare few that have created a devoted community,” Holistic Industries CEO Josh Genderson says. “Jerry Garcia is at the top of the list when you think of cannabis culture and raising consciousness about cannabis in the U.S.”
Garica, leader of the psychedelic rock band The Grateful Dead, is the latest on a list of late celebrities whose likeness has been used on legal cannabis products — others include Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix.
Genderson told us that the company was reached out by a few celebrities through the years with the idea to partner on a new collection, but the company decided to collaborate with Garcia’s family, introducing the new line in 2020.
“Jerry’s fan base is diverse in generation, geography and almost every other demographic,” Genderson says. “What we all share is a sense of belonging to the unique community Jerry helped build. We wanted to give fans something new to celebrate in Garcia Hand Picked, while also creating something that would appeal to people who aren’t fans yet but know enough to try the products and engage with the brand. From eco-friendly packaging to Jerry’s original artwork, quotes from Jerry and suggested playlists for each strain, Garcia Hand Picked products and merchandise were designed specifically for the fans.”
A Long Shadow
Does celebrity involvement mean that smaller brands are in danger of being overshadowed if they don’t have celebrity backers?
Rosen doesn’t think so. He believes authenticity is the key.
“Consumers are super savvy and they have to love the product first and foremost not the spokesperson. I think this is a time and place event and over time I don’t believe that a good brand needs a celebrity to validate it unless the authenticity of the celebrity is beyond dispute,” Rosen says.
“Do I want to smoke a $50 monogram joint because it has Jay-Z’s fingerprints on it? No doubt many will but the premium price likely is not borne out so much by the superior quality of the product as it is by the cool factor associated with an icon like Jay Z,” he adds. “And to answer my own question, I definitely want to try one of those $50 joints by Jay Z, but I doubt I would make a habit out of it. As much as I am a massive Jay Z fan, that shit is just too expensive.”
Indeed, famous names help spread the word on weed. So while the cannabis space appears big enough for both celebrity-backed and non-celebrity-backed brands, celebrity influence on breaking the stigma around the plan shouldn’t be underestimated.
As for whether the trend will continue in 2021, Rosen expects it will.
“To quote the philosopher Eric Hoffer when people are free to do as they please they usually imitate each other,” he says. “So absolutely yes more will follow out of a sense of FOMO and opportunity.”
Chuck Schumer’s dream of advancing nationwide cannabis reform must come now, or else it might not get another chance.
Democrats are on borrowed time with respect to their control of Congress, which means they either must work extra hard to ensure the votes necessary to stay in power, or beg, borrow, steal, and call in every favor to see that the party’s agenda is well-served before they are snuffed out by Republicans.
Among the many issues the Democrats are trying to pass, nationwide cannabis reform is a hot topic. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said earlier that legalizing marijuana at the federal level was a top priority for the upper chamber, but he has so far come up short. Unfortunately, the clock is ticking for the Democrats to get something on the books.
As it stands, next year’s midterm elections aren’t looking good for Democrats. Early indicators show that the Republicans are poised to take back control of the House majority, further dividing Congress. “Based on all factors, you’d have to consider Republicans the early favorites for the House majority in 2022,” David Wasserman with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report recently told NBC News. As for the outcome of the Senate, it seems to be any party’s game at this point.
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Some politicians believe that history is repeating itself — and it’s not going in favor of the Democratic Party. Senator Lindsey Graham said earlier this week that next year is looking like another 1994. That’s when the GOP swooped in with a vengeance and gained total control of Congress. “I think a tidal wave is brewing,” he said. “When you look at rampant inflation, out-of-control crime, and a broken border and just [a] general lack of knowing what you’re doing, lack of competency … the Republican Party’s going to have a great comeback if we recruit the right people.”
Assuming the political analysts are correct, that means Schumer’s dream of advancing nationwide cannabis reform must come now, or else it might not get another chance. Last month he brought forth a proposal aimed at ending federal marijuana prohibition. The concept is now up for public comment until September. The only problem is that Schumer, by his own admission, doesn’t have the votes to get the bill to the President’s desk anytime soon. He doesn’t have the support, the filibuster is still in the way, and even members of his own party are not onboard.
Still, Schumer is hopeful. “I think we will get it done because it’s so, so overwhelmingly supported by the American people,” he said when interviewed on ABC’s The View.
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Even though most Americans support legal weed, there’s no denying that Mitch McConnell continues to stand in the way. Despite his demotion to Senate Minority Leader, the Kentucky Republican has still managed to manhandle Schumer at nearly every turn. Most recently, however, McConnell embraced bipartisanship, voting in favor of the Democrat’s infrastructure deal. But — and it’s a big one — he said there are no plans to work with Democrats on any other issues in the future.
So, regardless of those cannabis advocates brimming with positivity about the chances of marijuana legalization happening soon — making the industry as legit as alcohol and tobacco — there’s really no chance that McConnell is going to rally his Republican colleagues to help Schumer pass a bill aimed at legalizing marijuana nationwide. No way. All Schumer can do at this point is fight to end the filibuster and pass the pot bill by a simple majority, which is something else he doesn’t have the votes to do. By all accounts, Schumer’s hands are tied.
If Farhad Manjoo’s column in the New York Times is accurate, Democrats not only have a year to save the planet, but the party has precisely the same amount of time to legalize weed. Come November 2022, the Republicans will probably return to power and destroy any hope of cannabis reform.
Despite the approved legality of hemp, the government has not been proactive in enacting appropriate regulations for the industry.
There is a clear disparity in the prices of CBD products globally. This difference has become more obvious over the last year due to the increased demand for CBD products.
Currently, it has been observed that the difference in the prices of the most expensive and least expensive products is around 4718%.
Not only is the cost of CBD products running high, but demand is also at its highest point and still increasing exponentially. The relaxed laws regarding the use of cannabis products have changed the stance of a high population of people on the usefulness of CBD products. Now, it’s been used to lessen the symptoms of medical conditions like pain, insomnia, PTSD, anxiety, depression, amongst others.
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Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the demand has gone higher, so has the production of expensive and cheap CBD products. Makes one think if the reason for this is that the producers are trying to meet the demands of the different classes of individuals in the country.
However, this difference is too much to be overlooked. CBD products are used by all for common reasons, such as treating medical conditions. These products should be priced evenly for all to have access to the best products. Not to mention that the cannabis market has not been regulated or legalized on a federal level.
So What’s Going On?
Once in a while, sales representatives of several CBD companies release statements to justify the high cost of their products, after which they either increase the cost of the products or continue with the same exorbitant price being complained about.
We decided to take it upon ourselves to figure out the main causes for this cost disparity in the CBD market. First of all, we considered the discrepancies in the quality of the cheapest and most expensive products. We also took into account the popularity of the brands and how it relates to the quality of the product.
We came to a few conclusions, but the highlight of it all is that these companies are charging a premium price for the best products in the market and selling them to elite society. The shady products are charged at cheap prices and sold to those that can afford them.
The Reasons For This Cost Difference
Type of product
CBD is a versatile compound and has been infused into various products. From gummies, topicals, creams, tinctures, oils, to edibles for pets. For now, CBD oil and et edibles are two of the most expensive CBD products in the market. Demand for CBD oil is currently at an all-time high and the hype may be here to stay for a while.
Method of cultivation
Hemp and marijuana are the major types of cannabis plants. Hemp is a cannabis plant with less than 0.3% thx, while marijuana has more than 0.3% THC. Legally, hemp has been approved for use in some states.
The price of CBD depends on the type of cannabis plant grown. Very few people have access to grow CBD rich cannabis plants.
In states where more people can grow CBD high cannabis plants, the prices tend to be reduced.
Photo by Elsa Olofsson via Unsplash
Extraction method
The method used by a CBD company to extract the CBD compound from the cannabis plant also determines the price of the products.
Some methods are more expensive than others—although CBD extracted through these methods are always of high quality. CO2 extraction is the most expensive and certainly worth it. Not all companies can afford to mass produce using this extraction method, they use cheaper methods like infusions and ethanol extractions, hence they sell out their products at reduced prices. Companies using the CO2 extraction method cannot cut prices.
Some CBD companies invest a lot in how their products are packaged and sold. It is good to note that a good and appealing packaging does not imply that the product is of the best quality, but it is enough for the company to place an expensive price on it.
Ingredients
The ingredients used also play a part in determining the cost. Regardless of this, many companies sometimes claim to make use of quality organic ingredients such as MCT oil, or olive oil, to justify attaching an expensive price tag to their products.
On the other hand, some companies sometimes make use of toxic substances to save costs to maintain the cheap prices the products are sold at.
Photo by Pharma Hemp Complex via Unsplash
Testing
CBD products are tested by third-party laboratories to ascertain the quality of the products. CBD product testing is not cheap and there are so many tests that need to be done.
The number of tests carried out on a product determines its price. Expensive products have been tested for other qualities beyond the CBD content like the presence of toxins, quality and level of terpenes. The price of a CBD product is a partial reflection of the quality of tests carried out.
Other factors include;
Business location
Cost of labour
Number of product producers
Etc.
What’s Next?
The next step is to discover ways to reduce the disparities in the cost of expensive and cheap CBD products.
Despite the approved legality of hemp, the government has not been proactive in enacting appropriate regulations for the industry. Due to this, the end-users have borne the brunt of the irregular prices and high tax rates charged to the end products.
For a high-profit margin, CBD companies have conveniently chosen to charge the bulk of the production costs to the consumers.
The government has to take action by giving standard prices to different CBD products in the market. To protect the producers, farmers and consumers, a standard range of prices will significantly reduce the huge difference in cost.
Consumers will also have access to the best products at affordable prices depending on the price range approved by the government. If this is done, soon enough the price of products like CBD oil may be as low as four cents per bottle depending on the percentage of CBD present in the oil.
Studies show a connection between mental illness and marijuana use, but it’s one that’s complex.
The use of marijuana has many scientifically proven health benefits. These can be as simple as helping users relax or as complex as managing chronic pain or stimulating appetite. There’s a lot we don’t know about marijuana, especially when discussing its negative side effects; aside from red eyes and the occasional bout of paranoia, can the use of the plant worsen conditions like mental illness?
There’s not a lot of evidence or scientific research out there, but some studies have found links between marijuana use and some mental health conditions, such as depression and even psychosis.
Studies have shown that people who smoke large amounts of marijuana on a daily basis are five times more likely to develop psychosis than others, with there being an influence on the age in which marijuana is first consumed and the individual’s genetic vulnerabilities.
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While these studies aren’t very useful for regular marijuana consumers, they do show a connection between marijuana use and mental health illnesses, although the existing link does not imply that one causes the other. While marijuana may sporadically cause hallucinations and paranoia, these effects fade once the drug wears off.
According to a survey conducted by Washington State University, people who use marijuana to treat their chronic pain are at more risk of developing depression and anxiety. The survey contacted 150 adults who used marijuana to treat their chronic condition and asked them about their experiences.
“When people have depression and anxiety and use cannabis on top of this, it would appear they have more negative outcomes,” explained lead investigator Marian Wilson. “Is it that they’re using more cannabis because the pain is so bad and their mood is affected, or is it because people with depression and anxiety are at greater risk of using cannabis in a way that may not be therapeutic?”
Photo by Benjamin Combs via Unsplash
More research is needed to draw a clearer picture, but what is becoming more and more apparent is that people with depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions are more likely to use marijuana. As “Some people with depression may use marijuana as a way to detach from their depressive symptoms,” Dr. Daniel K. Hall-Flavin told the Mayo Clinic. “Heavy users may appear depressed as a result of the dulling effects of the drug on feelings and emotions.”
Marijuana and mental health appear to be connected, with the relationship being positive or negative depending on the user, their genes and the regularity of use. Still, it’s unlikely that the occasional or regular use of marijuana will worsen an illness that’s being treated and tended to by mental health professionals.
Most of the Social Clubs in Madrid and other cities have closed or operate on a very low profile. However, over the last few years the number of clubs in Barcelona has exploded and there are — or were — several hundred, including some very lavish venues. The clubs were supposed to be places where members could share their cannabis, perhaps growing them together, etc. Yeah, sure.
In the real world, it was very easy to join, and there was cannabis for sale.
Photo by Henrique Ferreira via Unsplash
The new decision could force them to close, but the Barcelona police have told the clubs that they can only allow members to smoke their own cannabis.
Speaking of the real world, in the early days of Amsterdam and Vancouver, etc., there was usually a “house dealer”, the guy in the corner. At the Mellow Yellow, Amsterdam’s first “coffeeshop”, the house dealer had a stool with a slot where he could hide his stash if the police showed up.
Meanwhile, Spain is the country in Europe that needs marijuana legalization most urgently.
First, Spain is just 8 miles across the Straits of Gibraltar from Morocco, which has long been a source of traditional hashish, and more recently for all the other contraband drugs, especially cocaine, that are then distributed around Europe.
There are obvious parallels with the American relationship with Mexico, especially that traditional cannabis (hashish) smuggling has become less important than hard drugs, especially since cannabis is now widely grown in Europe, just as it is in the U.S.
Spain has the ideal climate for growing, and the Southeast coast is a major agricultural area. It seems obvious that Spain should follow the U.S., Canada, and several former Spanish colonies in legalizing cannabis.
Photo by Ken Cheung via Unsplash
Also, Spain is more dependent on international tourism than any other major European country, and, of course, the pandemic has devastated their economy. Spain also has long had major unemployment problems with young people, who would be ideal for the cannabis sector.
Unfortunately, the national government in Madrid has avoided the subject, and the Spanish media treat it as a crime issue, but do not recognize the economics of contraband that make prohibition counterproductive.
Meanwhile in Barcelona, closing the “social clubs” to tourists will be a major blow to its already devastated hospitality and tourism industry. Without getting into the often bizarre complications of Catalonia’s politics, there is a strong generally leftist drive for independence that usually gets about half the vote. Although this court ruling was from a Catalán court, it will be rightly blamed on the national government. Not helpful.
In fact, this ruling may be so damaging to both the economic and political situation that it may finally force Spain to confront the Drug War. The easy way out for Madrid would be something like the US approach, leaving the cannabis laws to the autonomous regions, and redirecting law enforcement to hard drugs.
