COVID-19 safety measures are fluctuating and it can get confusing. Here’s what the CDC is recommending you do if you’re vaccinated and exposed to the virus.
While the slow rise of COVID-19 cases can make it feel like we’re going back in time, there’s one big difference. Vaccines are readily available to any adult who wants to get their shot. Still, getting the call or message that you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 is terrifying, no matter your vaccination status.
What should you do if you’re vaccinated and have been exposed to someone who tested positive for the virus? It’s very unlikely for people who have been vaccinated to spread the virus or to get the disease symptomatically. Still, there is a margin of error, and breakthrough COVID-19 is a possibility.
There are a few steps you can take for some peace of mind:
Monitor your symptoms
Photo by cottonbro via Pexels
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccinated people who’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 should monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days. These include fever, cough, breathing difficulties, loss of smell and taste, and fatigue. These symptoms are often confused with those of a common cold and it’s important to remain vigilant.
If experiencing these symptoms, people should stay isolated and get a test for the virus. There should be an immediate test administered and another one 5 days later to make sure the results were correct. If you test positive for COVID-19, you should remain isolated for at least 10 days since your last COVID-19 test.
Lastly, mask mandates are fluctuating now that COVID-19 cases are on the rise. It’s always best to err on the side of caution, even if you’re vaccinated, masking up when located in indoor settings and crowded spaces. Even if the vaccine is highly effective against the virus, it’s still not a foolproof solution. By wearing a mask you’ll be protecting yourself and other people in your community, slowing down the person-to-person spread of the virus.
The future looked bright for hemp farmers, but the demand for CBD didn’t follow at the expected levels.
Delta-8 and smokable flower are the two products keeping hemp framers alive. The regulatory loophole that has allowed delta-8 to be sold legally is also causing legal confusion.
Delta-8 is a cannabis product that can be derived from hemp, but still give the consumer a light psychotropic experience. Some states have issued restrictions around the product, while others haven’t addressed it at all. Either way, the demand has been a blessing to hemp farmers who planted lots of acres in 2019 expecting a surge in CBD products, only to see the market contract and prices plummet.
Photo by CRYSTALWEED cannabis via Unsplash
Hemp Benchmarks reported that after rising 4%in May, the average per-kilogram price for delta-8 THC distillate fell 1% in June to $1,215. “Notably, both the low and high ends of observed transaction data — $900 and $1,650 per kilogram — were up compared to May.”
In Georgia, Reginald Reese of Green Toad Hemp Farm told Hemp Benchmarks that delta-8 THC was here to stay. “The beauty of it is, Georgia refused the [delta-8] ban,” he said. “We have the right as licensed hemp growers to use every part of that hemp.” Reese also told Hemp Benchmark that he believes efforts to ban delta-8 THC are part of a “full-court press” from the businesses participating in licensed, state-legal marijuana industries, which do not want the competition.
Smokable Flower Grows
The other product that has been welcomed by the farmers is smokable flower. The Benchmark reported that as of June 2021, the number of square feet registered for indoor or greenhouse hemp production, which is typically for the purpose of producing smokable CBD flower, is up significantly relative to last year. “Hemp Benchmarks has documented over 168.2 million square feet registered for indoor or greenhouse production. This figure is up 328% compared to over 39.5 million square feet recorded in June 2020 and up 85% from over 90.8 million square feet ultimately documented by the end of last year.”
It seems farmers are leaving the outdoor growing and focusing on indoor growing in order to fulfill smokable flower demand. The Benchmark report documented that smokable CBD Flower has maintained its value in the U.S. hemp wholesale market better than perhaps any other hemp-CBD product. “Flower grown indoors or in greenhouses also typically commands a premium price compared to that cultivated outdoors.”
The Benchmark report said that smokable CBD flower saw its average price decline in June after cresting above $300 per pound in May. “Despite some reports of still-stagnant demand for CBG, the price for smokable CBG flower rose 15% in June to average $326 per pound, exceeding the price for its CBD counterpart. The significant increase in the assessed price for CBG flower this month follows an over 50% jump observed in May.” This shift away from biomass and towards flower farming could potentially stabilize the biomass market. A reduction in supply could help wholesale prices.
Grasshoppers?
The problems affecting hemp crops this season could end up helping reduce the glut of hemp inventory. Excessive heat and drought in the western part of the U.S. have affected hemp farmers. Wildfire threats and water reductions have also conspired to challenge hemp farmers. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it seems grasshoppers love warm, dry weather.
Last year, farmers fought grasshopper infestations and it looks like this year conditions are ripe for an even bigger outbreak. The Hemp Benchmarks June report noted that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is said to be taking steps to mitigate damage to crops and rangelands by spraying pesticides in areas where infestations are likely to occur, including roughly 3,000 square miles of Montana, which is home to significant hemp production, primarily for grain.
Less Hemp Acreage
Hemp Benchmarks reported that there is less hemp being grown as farmers head into the 2021 season. Several reasons have caused the less than stellar outlook for the market. A glut of biomass and CBD caused a plunge in prices reducing the profitability of the crop. Farming more mainstream products have become a better investment. The hemp market has also been affected by a lack of regulatory guidance has also caused farmers to back off from planting more acreage.
Photo by MysteryShot/Getty Images
Hemp Benchmarks said it has documented the following hemp production licensing and acreage data for 2021:
8,298 licenses issued (down 8% from 9,066 counted in June 2020; down 58% from 19,799 ultimately documented for 2020);
107,702 acres registered for outdoor production (down 55% compared to 236,732 acres documented in June 2020; down 75% from 429,300 ultimately documented for 2020).
CBD Collapse
It seemed that almost every product on the retail shelves had some form of CBD in it. Food, beauty products and supplements popped up on every retail counter. The future looked bright for hemp farmers, but the demand didn’t follow at the expected levels. Thousands of CBD companies sprang up overnight and the flood of products created a confusing and competitive landscape.
A new Brightfield Group report says that the CBD industry has lost more than 1,000 players in the past 12 months — some through corporate consolidation and others to bankruptcy. Hemp Benchmarks also quoted farmers who said that there was a lot of low-priced inventory on the market due to bankrupt companies. Earlier this year the Phoenix Business Journal reported. that Integrated AG, the parent company of Integrated CBD, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Jan. 20 and disclosed over $20 million in outstanding debt.
Despite all the negative news, last month California-based Kadenwood, a privately held CBD consumer packaged goods company, completed a $30 million cash Series B capital raise. The company said it will use the money to buy advertising and acquire more companies. Kadenwood said the raise also includes a $20 million media campaign to raise brand awareness, bringing the total value to $50 million.
Your heart health is influenced by a wide variety of behaviors. A recent study shows a common behavior could be increasing your risk of developing heart disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, causing about 1 in 4 deaths. The term refers to several diseases that affect the heart, which can be influenced by a variety of things, from how much you work out, to the number of french fries you eat on a weekly basis. This one habit, that we might be guilty of doing depending on our professions, could also increase your odds of developing heart disease.
According to a 2018 study, spending large parts of your day standing up can double your risk of heart disease. We can’t win one, because sitting too much is also harmful for our heart health.
Photo by LuckyLife11 via Pixabay
The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, analyzed over 7,000 people over a period of 12 years. These people worked at least 15 hours a week and didn’t have heart disease at the start of the study. Results showed that participants who worked jobs that required them to stand were twice as likely to report heart disease than others who sat down during the duration of their work.
While we tend to associate standing up with movement and other positive things, researchers explained that standing for prolonged periods of time causes blood to pool in your legs. This can create pressure in the veins, elevating your risk of heart disease over time.
Photo by LinkedIn Sales Navigator
Surprisingly, in the long run, standing up over long periods of time is comparable to obesity and consuming nicotine on a daily basis. “Occupations that involve primarily standing represent an important, but often overlooked, cardiovascular risk factor,” researchers explained.
We often talk about the health problems associated with sitting over long periods of time, which are valid concerns. It seems like when it comes to our well-being, it’s important to lead a life with as much balance as possible. Ideally, workplaces should accommodate all sorts of people, encouraging behaviors that allow employees to be as healthy as they can be.
Cannabis operators and executives tell Benzinga that the movement of private and public companies may serve as a better indicator of regulatory activity than the federal government. At the very least, they say that the industry has made advancements so far without the efforts of Capitol Hill.
Poseidon Asset Management managing director Emily Paxhia recently mentioned that she and her firm are tracking the steps of private companies, cannabis and otherwise, noting which prominent brands are supporting the cannabis industry.
Photo by Darren415/Getty Images
Paxhia highlighted Nike Inc‘s (NYSE:NKE) recent support of track star Sha’Carri Richardson over her suspension from the Olympics over cannabis use.
Calling the actions “signaling moments,” Paxhia said investors and operators should consider, “Thinking about these bigger companies and looking at directions from them, not always from the regulators who seem to be lagging behind.”
Operators in various sectors of cannabis feel that the industry provides a better insight into regulatory needs and movements than lawmakers.
Michael Sassano, CEO of Somai Pharmaceuticals, believes that big business is doing fine, shaping the industry’s market without the federal government. He expects this trend to continue.
“All this continues while the government continues to fumble the ball,” said Sassano. He added, “At some point, it should be evident that legalization on a federal level is just an outdated political football.”
Roger Bloss, CEO of holding company M. J. Holdings, Inc. (OTC:MJNE), said that lawmakers act when businesses create a need for industry movement and policy reform. “Big business led it, and it’s had very little government intervention,” he said of industry progress so far.
Dede Perkins, co-founder and CEO of compliance tech company ProCanna, also considers big cannabis a worthwhile gauge of the market.
She noted that cannabis leaders have “a multi-jurisdictional lens and have hired lobbyists to be on the frontlines, talking with lawmakers at the state, federal, and in some cases, international levels.”
Photo by matt_benoit/Getty Images
Perkins cited how business leaders have a pulse on the public cannabis demand and insights to pending M&A (mergers and acquisitions) activity that could alter markets and potential legislation.
“Some lawmakers have insight into upcoming market movements, but I’d listen to big business leaders who have their fingers on the pulse at all levels,” Perkins said.
Operators Using M&A As Regulatory Gauge
Cannabis companies see the writing on the wall through major M&A deals.
Sassano said that following the U.S. market is the best indicator of possible reform. “When Canadian CEOs…claim that the U.S. is like a lottery ticket, and meanwhile U.S. companies continue a blistering pace of M&A, you know that the U.S. is going up.” In May 2021, Epidiolex and the entirety of G.W. Pharmaceuticals plc‘s (NASDAQ:GWPH) neuroscience portfolio was acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ) for $6.7 billion.
Perkins referred to another pending deal between MSOs Trulieve Cannabis Corporation (OTC:TCNNF) and Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. (OTC:HRVSF). Trulieve is currently in the process of finalizing a $2.1 billion deal to acquire Harvest.
Perkins added that MSOs are merging to claim their stake before intrastate distribution is allowed. She said those that do so would “be positioned to dominate a region rather than just one or a few scattered states.”
Klee Irwin, founder, and owner of CBD brand Irwin Naturals said his company is looking to become the first national herbal extract brand to sell THC products as well.
Like many others in the space, Irwin, whose company retails at Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST), Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT), CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) and Whole Foods, believes “federal legalization of marijuana is around the corner.”
A new study conducted on teens finds no connection between marijuana use and loss of motivation.
The lazy stoner is one of the most prevalent stereotypes, one that is still difficult to shake. A new study shows that marijuana use alone isn’t associated with less motivation, particularly in teens.
Published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, the study was conducted by researchers of the Florida International University and took two years to complete.
Photo by Elsa Olofsson via Unsplash
Researchers recruited over 400 participants of the ages 14 to 17, and asked them to complete five biannual assessments over the course of the study. These assessments consisted of two motivational questionnaires — the Apathy Evaluation Scale and the Motivation and Engagement Scale — and questions about the participants’ use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana.
While results showed that higher cannabis use correlates with higher loss of motivation, once factors like tobacco and alcohol use, and age, sex and levels of depression were accounted for, there was little evidence that suggested marijuana alone had an impact on motivation.
The study also showed that while some subjects increased their cannabis use over the years, this change wasn’t associated with more or less motivation.
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock
“Our findings do not support a relationship between cannabis use and reductions in motivation over time in a sample of adolescents at risk for escalation in cannabis use,” wrote the study’s authors. “The current study contributes to the extant literature by examining these associations longitudinally in a large sample of adolescent cannabis users while controlling for important and often overlooked confounds, including sex and depression.”
Motivation in teens is a complex issue, one that’s influenced by a lot of factors. According to Psychology Today, teenagers are more difficult to motivate since they’re growing out of their childhood mindsets. “External factors are typically reliable as sources of motivation for children, but after 12, the factors, such as the desire for parental and social approval, start to diminish as core sources of motivation.” Outside distractions like social life, home life and substances like marijuana and alcohol, can all impact their levels of motivation.
Scientific data on cannabis and its effects on people are important for debunking myths that have long tampered with the plant. Having this knowledge and providing it to people makes it harder for legislators to continue the war on drugs by spreading fear and misinformation.
During their years of collaboration, Houseplant grew to become a popular consumer brand in Canada and is now among the top 10 in the premium cannabis market in Ontario.
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s cannabis and lifestyle brand Houseplant and cannabis giant Canopy Growth Corp. (NYSE: CGC) will terminate their partnership.
The two companies that created a joint venture three years ago and launched in Canada have mutually agreed to end their collaboration. Since the brand’s launch, the Canadian cannabis market has significantly expanded, thus the parties decided it was time for Houseplant to further evolve on its own while Canopy will continue working on its wholly-owned brands.
Photo by Rich Fury/Staff/Getty Images
During their years of working closely together, Houseplant grew to become a popular consumer brand in Canada and is now among the top 10 in the premium cannabis market in Ontario.
Among the most successful products are beverages with Houseplant Grapefruit becoming the top-selling cannabis drink in Canada in its first year. In 2020, more than one million cans of Houseplant beverages were sold in Canada.
“The recent launch of Houseplant in the United States has given us a clear benchmark for what Houseplant stands for, and how we plan to bring the brand to life globally,” Michael Mohr, co-founder and CEO of Houseplant said. “While our collaboration with the Canopy team has been fruitful and we continue to hold similar views on the opportunities ahead, we believe the time is right for us to focus on Houseplant independently.”
Rade Kovacevic, president and chief product officer at Canopy Growth added that the company is pleased with its Houseplant partnership.
“We’ve delivered high quality and innovative products to Canadian consumers and played a critical role in defining the premium cannabis category in Canada,” Kovacevic said. “As we move forward, Canopy will advance our focus on our wholly-owned brands for the Canadian market and we wish the Houseplant team the best in their future endeavors.”
What’s Next – Relaunch In Canada
Some Houseplant-branded cannabis products will still be available across Canada until the end of September 2021. The company plans to relaunch in the Canadian market with products similar to its U.S. offerings.
“Canada is where it all started – for us as people, and for the brand,” said Houseplant co-founder Seth Rogen. “This is not an exit from the Canadian market, but a chance for us to evolve the brand.”
The collaboration between Houseplant and Canopy Growth did not reach the U.S. which is why termination of the deal does not affect the company’s operations there. However, Houseplant launched a line of its products in the U.S. this March.
Poor indoor air quality can rarely be detected with the naked eye, but it’s the root cause of many illnesses from asthma to cancer.
After experiencing last year’s historic wildfire season, it seemed like we had seen the worst. But last year’s fire events do not compare to the 2021 fire season for California and Washington.
In California, between January 1 and July 4, there were 4,599 fires that scorched 114.8 square miles, compared to the same time frame last year that brought 3,847 fires that blackened 48.6 square miles. Washington recently declared a state of emergency due to the extreme heat wave, banning most campfires, bonfires, residential yard-debris cleanup, trash disposal, land clearing, and agricultural burning.
Photo by Ludde Lorentz via Unsplash
The smoke from wildfires in some of these areas are tangible, and having face masks readily available is a smart first action. Authorities may request that you shelter indoors. However, simply sheltering in your home does not provide much protection against another issue that’s often overlooked — poor indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality can rarely be detected with the naked eye, but it’s the root cause of many illnesses from asthma to cancer.
Considering the spread of the new delta COVID-19 variant carried in the air, along with extended fire seasons, people in fire regions need to be better prepared for smoke lockdowns. But how can you improve the air inhaled by not only you and your children, but also by your parents and those with compromised immune systems?
We are in the grips of record-breaking hot summer months, there are four steps to improve your home’s Indoor Air Quality and help keep your family healthy and safe.
1. Be aware of quickly developing fire events — and prepare
Experts recommend that you stay indoors during days with moderate air-quality alerts and especially during air quality warnings. While most of us are probably most familiar with ozone alert days, particulate pollution has the most significant impact on individuals with compromised immune systems, particularly those with lung disease, heart disease, the elderly, or the very young.
2. Keep your home airtight by reducing outside air infiltration
The most immediate danger from particulate matter is typically a 100-mile radius from the fire, though particulates can linger in the air for up to two weeks after a fire. Even if you cannot see or smell the wildfire, it does not mean the harmful particulates aren’t impacting your area’s air quality. When inside your home, do not run ventilation systems that bring outdoor air inside such as bathroom fans or any type of fan connected directly to the outside. Do your best to keep all doors and windows closed.
Photo by Marcus Kauffman via Unsplash
3. Use your air conditioner to passively “scrub” the air
Don’t rely on standard HVAC filters to collect tiny particulate pollutants such as smoke, dust, dander, viruses, and bacteria; these particles are too small and they pass right through the filters.
For improved air quality, consider upgrading your HVAC air filter to a HEPA or carbon filter. Both types of filters remove up to 97% of particles, capturing contaminants and particles. HEPA filters remove dust, dander, and other allergens such as mold, while carbon filters remove smoke, fumes, etc. When wildfires are active in your area, you should change HVAC filters every 30 days.
There are two downsides to utilizing these “passive” air treatments, including the high price point. Also, since these are considered passive air treatment solutions, smoke and other pollutants must pass through the filter itself.
4. Eliminate smoke throughout Your Home
Standard furnace filters allow 80% particles 3.0 microns or larger to pass through the filter. These particles disperse to all conditioned areas of the home, which in essence, means that the fan is mixing the interior air and creating a relatively equal distribution of unhealthy particles.
But what if these pollutant particles were larger, so they could be trapped in filters or inactivated and fall harmlessly to the ground?
Photo by Jenny Uhling from Pexels
Look for active air treatment technologies that work in conjunction with your standard furnace air filter and can be easily installed in the existing ductwork. The technology disperses safe levels of hydrogen peroxide molecules (comparable to levels experienced in sunlight) to all conditioned spaces within the home. These airborne hydrogen peroxide molecules actively seek and attach to pollutants such as viruses, bacteria, mold and smoke. By attaching a hydrogen molecule to a pollutant, the pollutant becomes larger. Even traditional HVAC filters can capture these pollutants and remove them from the air.
Perhaps the most important active air treatment? The active hydrogen peroxide molecules are distributed throughout a room. There is no need for the pollutants to be pulled through a filter. The pollutants are inactivated and rendered harmless when they come in contact with hydrogen peroxide molecules in any part of the room.Utilizing active air treatment technology in conjunction with your existing HVAC system,and cost-effective filters is effective against even the smallest pollutants and viruses.
Side note: active air treatment technologies have been on the market for decades and they have been tested to ensure safety and efficacy. In fact, these same solutions can be found in many commercial and retail establishments, as well as grocery stores even in your dentist’s office.
Prepare Now for an Unpredictable Summer
With the pandemic re-energizing the focus on Indoor Air Quality, there are many untested and unproven solutions on the market. Ask your licensed HVAC professional about proven active air purification solutions for residential and commercial applications. Installation of these units is simple and relatively non-invasive but needs to be completed by a licensed HVAC professional to ensure proper sizing and performance.
The legal cannabis market is planned to reach $43 billion by 2025. In the US, as of July 1, 2021, 47 states have legalized cannabis, of which 19 states have legalized it for both recreational and medical use. This means that 43% of the US adult population resides in these states and that by 2025, 5.4 million Americans will be registered as patients in medical cannabis states.
Looking at these numbers, a question that often arises is, “will all these people be able to get life insurance coverage?”
Photo by LightFieldStudios/Getty Images
Up until recently, using marijuana was taboo and was not supported, even condoned, by the health care and life insurance fields. Things have changed, research shows more in-depth findings, and customer behavior and demand have shifted.
The bottom line is – yes! Individuals can get life insurance if using marijuana, and it may not even cost more. Of course, the final policy price and approval depend on the insurance company and other factors affecting the individual applying.
When insurers review an individual applying, there are quite a few factors considered:
Age
Weight
Family history
Hobbies
Overall health and medical conditions.
Physical activity
Sleep habits
Diet
So in a sense, marijuana usage is only one factor of a whole plethora of factors reviewed. Life insurance companies will likely dive in and ask how often and why cannabis is used and the medical reason or condition it is treating.
Health and Marijuana Usage
At the time of marijuana usage, judgment and short-term memory are impaired. Use also alters perception and may put drivers at risk, for example. By the National Institute of Drug Abuse, marijuana may be linked with lifetime psychiatric problems and long-term health problems much later in life.
Marijuana Usage Frequency
Life insurance applications include questions about the applicant’s marijuana usage frequency. This answer helps companies categorize health classes and determines life insurance rates. Sporadic users can oftentimes qualify for nonsmoking rates, but each life insurance provider decides its own parameters for occasional or infrequent users. This is key, as smokers tend to be offered more expensive rates.
Photo by CasarsaGuru/Getty Images
Life Insurance Rates for Marijuana Users
The bottom line, or the final quotes when applying for life insurance, will depend on cannabis usage or nonusage and age, gender, and the amount of coverage seeking. However, life insurance quotes based solely on marijuana use increase (two or fewer times per month for occasional users and more than two times a month for regular users).
Medical Marijuana Usage
Life insurance companies generally don’t really care if marijuana is used recreationally or medically in their resulting rates. But providers will need to know the underlying medical condition triggering marijuana usage; this condition can also affect life insurance coverage pricing.
Applying for Life Insurance
Today more than ever, life insurance providers are making tremendous efforts to reach potential applicants across a variety of approaches; many have integrated online platforms with or without the need for any further human interaction. They rely on applicants to be candid and take measures to confirm all the data is true and transparent.
Companies like Sproutt.com have streamlined all aspects of the application process, allowing both online and offline interaction, depending on the party’s preferences, present a variety of options to choose from, and have shortened the insurance company’s time of response. Full disclosure for all applications.
However, transparency and the expectation of authenticity are required both ways. Since it is more likely than not that an applicant with a history of medical marijuana usage will be able to get life insurance, it’s crucial they be honest and specific about their usage history. When applying, the insurer is permitted to check all outside records. The answers on the application need to match medical records history to validate the information provided. Medical exams may be requested as well, a prescription review may occur, and even access to motor vehicle records. This is not just the case for marijuana users.
If red flags come up during this research — history of substance abuse, criminal records, moving violations like DUIs — the rate will probably be higher. In some extreme cases, applicants may be denied.
Legalization Dictates Services
Marijuana usage is on the rise, legalization is close to follow, and an increase in services supporting recreational medical use. The insurance industry has made strides to accommodate these changes, not without research and following consumer behavior.
Today the life insurance industry can accommodate and will not leave recreational users and those using for medical purposes in the dark. Policies are available and are dependent on usage, conduct, frequency, and reason, as they are based on a variety of additional factors as applicants are required to be candid and forthcoming.
COVID-19 vaccines for kids under the age of 12 are still unavailable. Here are some common questions parents may have.
While vaccines are available for people of most ages, they’ve yet to be authorized for children under the age of 12. Given the rise in cases all over the country, many parents are asking themselves about the risks of getting their children involved in different activities or hanging out with grandparents, or people who are immunocompromised.
Here are 4 common questions about unvaccinated kids:
How big of a risk is COVID-19 for unvaccinated kids?
Photo by Daria Shevtsova via Pexels
Kids are much less prone to serious COVID-19 complications than adults. Still, there are kids who have died from COVID-19 and have experienced the long-term effects of the disease. While the odds of kids getting COVID-19 are on the low side, it’s possible for them to transmit the disease to adults. According to a study, the transmission rate of children to adults is about half of the transmission rate from adult to adult.
How big of a risk are the vaccinated parents of unvaccinated kids?
Self magazine spoke to different experts regarding this topic and most agreed that vaccinated people are low risk, no matter the vaccination status of their children. Still, Dr. Saad B. Omer made this clarification when talking about indoor spaces: “If there is a situation where it’s really crowded and you really don’t know who’s vaccinated, it’s reasonable to wear a mask, especially with new variants around the corner.”
Can unvaccinated kids spend time with vaccinated grandparents?
This question is tough, since there are a lot of variables to contend with. For the most part, it depends on the vaccination status of the grandparents, their comorbidities, and the transmission rate of the community. Despite the vaccines, we are still in a pandemic, so health experts recommend committing to outdoor spaces and for kids who are unvaccinated to wear their masks.
What about group activities?
Photo by AndreyPopov/Getty Images
Outdoor sports for kids should be a low risk activity. If kids have flu symptoms then they shouldn’t be participating, but otherwise it should be fine, especially if COVID-19 community levels are low. When discussing indoor activities, it’s more complicated. If the location is big and with decent airflow, and the amount of kids participating is small and is wearing masks, then it’s preferable and of lower risk than other alternatives.
A study out of Denmark makes a strong case for cannabis use increasing the risk for developing schizophrenia, but the diagnosis itself is complex, and often overlaps with other conditions.
For thousands of years, societies across the world have used cannabis for medicinal, spiritual and social purposes. It continues to be the most used recreational drug worldwide, with the 2019 World Drug Report estimating that nearly 200 million people across the world consume it.
But cannabis is not one-size-fits-all, and government restrictions on scientific research means that many of its effects, both positive and negative, remain unknown. A new study from Denmark published in JAMA Psychiatry may shed light on the down side of cannabis use, particularly when it comes to adults diagnosed with schizophrenia, a chronic mental illness “characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour.”
Photo by Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash
One of the study’s authors Carsten Hjorthøj, an associate professor at the Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, told CNN that “there is, unfortunately, evidence to suggest that cannabis is increasingly seen as a somewhat harmless substance. This is unfortunate, since we see links with schizophrenia, poorer cognitive function, substance use disorders, etc.”
Schizophrenia affects about 20 million people globally. And according to this new study, schizophrenia diagnoses in Denmark found to be related to cannabis use disorders rose from 2% to 8% between 1995-2010. Cannabis use disorder has many symptoms, one of which is “continuing to use cannabis despite physical or psychological problems.”
“Of course, our findings will have to be replicated elsewhere before firm conclusions can be drawn,” Hjorthøj said.
Photo by Elsa Olofsson via Unsplash
Previous research has suggested that intense and prolonged cannabis use can alter brain function, but not enough evidence exists to draw definite conclusions. The study in Denmark makes a strong case for cannabis use increasing the risk for developing schizophrenia, but the diagnosis itself is complex, and often overlaps with other conditions.
It should be noted that the study only examined those with diagnosed cannabis use disorders, not casual or infrequent users. A vast majority of users continue to consume cannabis without adverse mental health effects.
“It is known that people who seek treatment tend to have multiple mental health problems, not solely cannabis problems,” Terrie Moffitt, a professor and chair in Social Behaviour & Development of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King’s College London, said. “And there are far more recreational cannabis users who manage cannabis well than cannabis-dependent users who cannot manage it.”
