Liquor Vs. Cannabis: Which Is More Popular Post Lockdown?

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July 15, 2021

Liquor Vs. Cannabis: Which Is More Popular Post Lockdown?

By placing the “essential” tag on marijuana during the pandemic, cannabis joined the same category as pharmacies, hospitals, and other legitimate medicine.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented and worrisome impact on all businesses and sectors across the world. The cannabis and liquor businesses were not spared, and it is expected to think about the state of these businesses post-COVID-19.

Interestingly, one of the focal points to consider is the priority people will place on both substances. Will cannabis be more prominent in use than liquor, or will it be vice versa? How will cannabis businesses fare over the liquor business?

Does Smoking Cannabis Kill Your Brain Cells? — Photo by Matthew Haggerty via Unsplash

The move by the California state during the pandemic

One week after the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, the state of California announced a statewide business lockdown. The state of Illinois also followed through with the same directive after California.

Both states designated marijuana businesses and operators as “essential services” with supermarkets, pharmacies, and liquor stores. These businesses were allowed to be opened while other businesses shut down.

Other states quickly followed the California and Illinois lead by declaring marijuana operates as an important business. This move enabled a rush for such essential designations in the early weeks of the pandemic. This rush for marijuana was a progressive moment in the marijuana industry which also led to the creation of new legal state marijuana markets.

These new markets are projected to generate billions of dollars from marijuana sales, positioning the market and industry for future expansion. By placing the “essential” tag on marijuana, cannabis joined the same category as pharmacies, hospitals, and other legitimate medicine.

Cannabis went from being an alternative treatment to an essential medicine which is a significant upgrade in credibility. Therefore, states put marijuana on the same level as liquor. With both substances on the same level during the pandemic, it is expected that in the post-COVID-19 era, marijuana businesses will remain essential.

Marijuana over liquor: an inevitable choice post-COVID-19.

During the pandemic, people generally focused more on the businesses that were tagged essential. This means cannabis enthusiasts weren’t left dry without access to their favorite substances. When the lockdowns were lifted, and people got vaccinated, the marijuana industry continued to grow exponentially, which cannot be said of the liquor market.

Of course, people who loved liquor also enjoyed it but thought that marijuana was a marginalized industry before the pandemic. It remains illegal at the Federal level. But the pandemic shifted this reality such that people started to see the value that marijuana offered, especially to their health.

Cannabis Unionization Efforts Continue To Grow Across Several States — Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Liquor, on the other, although an excellent recreational substance, was mainly seen as a threat as most people tried to get rid of things that could affect the organs of their bodies. As we all know, alcohol increases the risk of damage to our organs getting damaged with each drink.

There was reiterated emphasis on people checking what they consumed post-COVID-19, and if liquor doesn’t do much do, the focus will quickly shift to marijuana. The focus here is on marijuana for medical purposes, which positively impacts the human body.

Cannabis as an essential substance good for business

The “Essential” designation gives to cannabis during the pandemic destigmatized the drug amongst consumers. Such that regulators in many states insisted on business-friendly safety measures like home delivery and curbside pickup.

Post COVID-19 era will see a continuation of this practice which means more people will gain access to cannabis, unlike the pre-pandemic period. State health authorities also gave physicians the green light to prescribe medical marijuana (through online appointments). This move made it easier for patients to get medical cards and receive marijuana-based treatment.

These factors led to states where marijuana was legal across the nation to attain record sales in 2020. This situation is a point of optimism for the marijuana industry on how well the market will thrive far above the liquor market post-COVID-19.

Why people prefer cannabis to alcohol post COVID-19

Since the pandemic, states saw increased new consumers at their dispensaries, with more people willing to explore marijuana. This increasing diversity amongst consumers continues largely, with people incorporating cannabis into their health and wellness routines.

The central message during the pandemic was simple: keep your immune system strong enough to resist the virus. Excessive intake of liquor counters that message, and this drove people into seeking solutions. Harris Poll surveyed on behalf of Curaleafa retailer of cannabis products operating in 23 states.

From that survey, some interesting statistics were discovered. The first of which is that aside from new consumers, old cannabis users also increased their usage.

54% of those who increased their usage started at the beginning of the pandemic, and they said they did it to reduce stress and anxiety.

50% of respondents increased their usage because they said that cannabis enabled them to relax.

At the same time, 48% increased their use to help them sleep.

Additionally, 33% attest to the fact that they prefer cannabis over alcohol.

alcoholics — Photo by Hero Images/Getty Images

More parents also turned to cannabis over liquor during the pandemic, and it continued post-pandemic:

With this realization, more than 52% of the respondents who have ever used cannabis with kids under 18 say they have started taking cannabis.

33% of parents without children under the age of 18 agree with the first respondents.

57% of parents agree that their use of marijuana has replaced alcohol consumption.

These facts further confirm that cannabis is taking a front stage over liquor which is a massive boost for the marijuana industry.

Bottom Line

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were still some hesitations in some states over the use of cannabis. But with California and Illinois tagging it as an essential service during the pandemic.

Medical marijuana started to take over with doctors getting the go-ahead to recommend it when needed. This explosion of cannabis in states during the pandemic continues post-COVID-19, and it has led to cannabis preference over liquor.

Eventually, people will always choose the more positively impactful substance, even for recreational purposes. Cannabis recorded groundbreaking sales from 2020 to the present, and with that, we have an answer for the original question: cannabis trumps liquor in a post pandemic world.

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

Chuck Schumer’s Long-Awaited Federal Marijuana Legalization Bill Unveiled: Will The Full Senate Accept It?

Benzinga Staff Writer

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July 15, 2021

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Chuck Schumer’s Long-Awaited Federal Marijuana Legalization Bill Unveiled: Will The Full Senate Accept It?

Though the legislation faces a 50-50 Senate, it is clearly a major milestone for cannabis and social justice advocates.

Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer flanked by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) presented a highly-anticipated draft legislation bill on Wednesday to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, calling it “long overdue” and monumental.

“At long last, we are taking steps in the Senate to right the wrongs of the failed war on drugs,” Schumer said, calling arrests for marijuana a “waste of human resources” that cause agony to those whose lives have been ruined by criminal arrest records for small amounts of pot, especially among communities of color and the poor who have been disproportionally impacted by prohibition.

Chuck Schumer’s Senate Balancing Act Could Impact Marijuana Reform — Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

Schumer recognized that his own attitude toward legalization has evolved but now feels strongly about ending prohibition, as does “70% of the American population that support legalization.”

He referred to the state of South Dakota. “If South Dakota can legalize recreational marijuana, so can the Senate!”

Banking Bill

Asked about whether the bill contained banking provisions, Cory Booker stepped up to the microphone and categorically said: if the Senate attempts to pass a banking bill to please the large companies before dealing with the social justice and legalization issues of cannabis, “I will lay myself down to stop an easy banking bill so someone can make the big money” and leave all the others behind.

Response From Cannabis Community

Steven Hawkins, executive director at the Marijuana Policy Project said he was heartened by the bill: “For justice reform, for equity, for individual liberty, and countless other reasons, it is time to respect the will of the American people and legalize cannabis. I am heartened by the Booker, Schumer, Wyden bill draft, which is a promising first step towards Senate passage, and hopeful that it will lead to negotiations and bipartisan support for an inclusive and equitable legal cannabis industry.”

Now What?

Though the legislation faces a 50-50 Senate, it is clearly a major milestone for cannabis and social justice advocates.

Schumer explained in the press conference they, the sponsors, want public feedback on the proposal and are especially interested in hearing about cannabis potency, coordinating federal and state law enforcement and finding a fair system to reduce the often burdensome entry barriers to the cannabis industry while mitigating the influence of illicit cannabis operators, noted Marijuana Moment.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit comments on these and other issues to Cannabis_Reform@finance.senate.gov by September 1.

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

Those Who Get COVID-19 After Getting The Pfizer Vaccine Also Suffer From This

Maria Loreto

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July 15, 2021

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Those Who Get COVID-19 After Getting The Pfizer Vaccine Also Suffer From This

Breakthrough COVID-19 is causing a lot of stress for people who are inoculated. Here’s what these infections have in common in people who have the Pfizer vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines have curbed the pandemic, being the only measure capable of enforcing some control. While the initial months of the year were marked by a sharp decline of COVID-19 cases, this hasn’t been the case over the last couple of weeks, with new variants in circulation and groups of people who have yet to be inoculated. Then there’s breakthrough COVID-19.

According to the CDC, breakthrough COVID-19 cases refer to any instance where someone gets COVID-19 two weeks after receiving their final COVID-19 shot. A lot is unknown about these infections, but new research has found a trend in over 40% of breakthrough COVID-19 cases in people inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine.

This Can Let You Know If Your COVID-19 Vaccine Worked — Photo by Mat Napo via Unsplash

The study, published in the journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection, followed 152 participants that had been inoculated with Pfizer and had tested positive for COVID-19. The study concluded that 40% of these patients were immunosuppressed, including people who were going through chemotherapy, recipients of organ transplants, and more.

A deeper dive into the study showed that people with comorbidities made up a significant sample of infections. Seventy-one percent of patients had hypertension, 48% had diabetes, 27% had heart failure, etc. Only 6% of patients with breakthrough infections had no comorbidities.

“We found that severe COVID-19 infection, associated with a high mortality rate, might develop in a minority of fully-vaccinated individuals with multiple comorbidities. Our patients had a higher rate of comorbidities and immunosuppression compared to previously reported non-vaccinated hospitalized COVID-19 patients,” said the study’s authors.

Despite this seemingly alarming data for people who are immunosuppressed, breakthrough COVID-19 infections remain very low. The real risk lies in people who are unvaccinated, who continue to make up the majority of COVID-19 infections and deaths that are making the news now. These deaths and infections are preventable; people just need to go and get their shots.

Sports Leagues And Cannabis Testing: A North American Survey

Canna Law Blog

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July 14, 2021

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Sports Leagues And Cannabis Testing: A North American Survey

Sha’Carri Richardson’s disqualification provides an excellent opportunity for sports organizations to evaluate their marijuana policies.

By Andrew Smith

On June 28, U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson was suspended for one month by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for using cannabis, effectively disqualifying her from competing in the Olympics. The suspension of a gold medal contending athlete caught many by surprise and sparked a worldwide debate about marijuana use by athletes should be addressed. Many in the sports world quickly rushed to her defense, including Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, who called the suspension “ridiculous.”

WADA has three criteria for a drug to qualify for its prohibited substances list: (1) it represents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete; (2) it has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance; and (3) it violates the spirit of sport.

According to a 2011 paper written by WADA scientists, marijuana satisfies all three of the criteria. First, “athletes who smoke cannabis or Spice in-competition potentially endanger themselves and others because of increased risk taking, slower reaction times and poor executive function or decision making.” Second, “based on current animal and human studies as well as on interviews with athletes and information from the field, cannabis can be performance enhancing for some athletes and sports disciplines.” Third, “use of illicit drugs that are harmful to health and that may have performance-enhancing properties is not consistent with the athlete as a role model for young people around the world.”

The reasoning of the scientists has been met with significant opposition, if not further questions. One of the reasons many people found Richardson’s suspension so shocking may be because cannabis generally is not considered a performance-enhancing drug. Additionally, whether marijuana users are inherently bad role models for young people is incredibly subjective and should not be grounds for disqualifying an otherwise upstanding citizen from Olympic competition.

As more and more states have passed laws decriminalizing marijuana use, major professional sports leagues in North America have made major changes to their own marijuana policies. How these changes have come about is not uniform: some organizations update their collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with athletes, while others have just stopped enforcing their cannabis policies. We thought this blog post would be a good opportunity to survey the major North American sporting associations and identify the current position of each with respect to cannabis testing policies (if any).

Roger Federer — Photo by Flickr user Christian Mesiano

International Tennis Federation

While smoking marijuana and all forms of THC are prohibited for competition, the ITF has determined that CBD is permitted.

Major League Baseball

The MLB removed cannabis from its list of “drugs of abuse” in 2019, and now the league no longer even tests for marijuana.

Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer’s policy simply states that any substance banned by WADA is banned by the league, and FIFA adopts the same policy.

NASCAR

NASCAR tests and disqualifies drivers for marijuana use.

National Basketball Association

The NBA’s policy still includes fines and then suspensions for players who repeatedly use marijuana, but some progress as been made. Last year, while the league moved to its bubble format in Orlando, the league stopped its random marijuana testing. Since then, the league has not resumed random testing. An NBA spokesman mentioned that there are no immediate plans to reinstate random marijuana testing, wanting to focus drug testing on “performance enhancing products and drugs of abuse.” There is optimism that the NBA will change its policy more permanently, as commissioner Adam Silver mentioned that may be behind the times regarding its marijuana policy.

NBA Exploring Marijuana For Players, Worried About 'Crazed Attorney General' — Photo by tookapic via Pixabay

National Football League

The NFL has stopped suspending players for using marijuana. Any positive marijuana tests are treated on a case-by-case basis, but only if they occur during the first two weeks of training camp.

National Hockey League

The NHL has adopted quite a hands-off approach regarding marijuana. As long as the a player plays for a team in a state where marijuana use is legal, the NHL does not penalize players for using marijuana. The NHL still tests its players, but just to identify players who need additional league help rather than to punish players.

National Women’s Soccer League

The NWSL has one of the more progressive marijuana policies in sports. The league allows use of cannabinoids, such as CBD, for pain management. The league is even allowing sponsorships from the cannabis industry, as Mendi, a CBD company started by Megan Rapinoe’s sister, Rachael, has partnered with two NWSL teams.

PGA Tour

While CBD was taken off of USGA’s banned substances list in 2018, golfers can still be suspended for marijuana use. Such was the case in 2019, when two golfers were suspended after testing positive for marijuana. The suspensions have led to challenges of USGA’s marijuana policy.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In January of this year, UFC announced that it will no longer care about positive THC tests, as long as there is no reason to believe that a fighter used it intentionally to enhance their performance. All other natural cannabinoids have been removed from UFC’s prohibited substances list.

USA Track & Field

The policy that USA Track and Field adheres to comes from the WADA, and is explained above. While WADA prohibits THC use, which Richardson used, it does not prohibit the use of CBD. However, in the aftermath of Richardson’s suspension, USA Track and Field has publicly stated that WADA policy on THC should be reevaluated.

Women’s National Basketball Association

The WNBA still tests for and penalizes use of cannabis, according to its new CBA which was agreed to in January 2020. The CBA also has a specific marijuana program that players can voluntarily take advantage of if they run into trouble with the league’s policy.

World Boxing Association

There is no universal cannabis policy instituted by WBA, as marijuana policies are generally left to state athletic commissions.

Richardson’s disqualification provides an excellent opportunity for sports organizations to evaluate their marijuana policies. Just Tuesday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted to eliminate disciplining fighters and boxers for marijuana use. While the attention of the sporting world is currently on marijuana policy, Richardson’s suspension may also be an opportunity for states and the United States as a whole to reevaluate marijuana laws.

The time has come to truly examine how and why cannabis users are punished, inside and outside of sport.

This article originally appeared on Canna Law Blog and has been reposted with permission.

Federal Cannabis Legalization Bill Is Proposed

Debra Borchardt

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July 14, 2021

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Federal Cannabis Legalization Bill Is Proposed

The legislative draft that the Senators came up with was based partially on a bill that the House passed in December.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) released the full text of their federal draft marijuana legalization bill called the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act. This massive piece of legislation is clocking in at a hefty 163 pages and a public comment period is open until September 1.

In general, the legislation aims to deschedule cannabis, expunge prior records, fund equity programs, remove collateral consequences, and transfer regulatory authority for marijuana to the Food and Drug Administration and other federal agencies. Only consumers over the age of 21 would be allowed to buy legal cannabis and adults would be limited to purchases of up to 10 ounces. The bill would also impose a federal tax on marijuana products and put some of that revenue toward grant programs meant to support people from communities most impacted by prohibition who want to participate in the industry.

Will Weed Ever Be Federally Legal In The US? What The Experts Say — Photo by Anton Petrus/Getty Images

“Cannabis prohibition, a key pillar of the failed war on drugs, has caused substantial harm to our communities and small businesses, and especially for communities of color,” Wyden said. “It’s as simple as this: Senators Booker, Schumer, and I want to bring common sense to the federal government, end prohibition and restore the lives of those hurt most and set them up for opportunity.”

The legislation proposes to federally deschedule cannabis, expunge prior convictions, allow people to petition for resentencing, maintain the authority of states to set their own marijuana policies, and remove collateral consequences like immigration-related penalties for people who’ve been criminalized over the plant.

The Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation (CPEAR) said in a statement, “The draft demonstrates a commitment to ensure a national legal cannabis market that is equitable, with protections for the small and minority-owned businesses that have been crucial for establishing legal markets in states across the country.

In addition to those items, the CAOA would transfer regulatory authority over cannabis to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“The days of federal prohibition are numbered,” said NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri. “These actions by Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senators Booker and Wyden reflect the fact that the supermajority of Americans are demanding that Congress take action to end the cruel and senseless policy of federal prohibition. It is time for legislators to comport federal law with the laws of the growing number of states that have legalized the plant, and it is time for lawmakers to facilitate a federal structure that allows for cannabis commerce so that responsible consumers can obtain high-quality, low-cost cannabis grown right here in America without fear of arrest and incarceration.”

Why 2021 Should Prove The Year Of Federal Cannabis Legalization — Photo by gradyreese/Getty Images

Dasheeda Dawson, Chair of Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition (CRCC) and Cannabis Program Supervisor at City of Portland OR said, “The introduction of the Schumer, Wyden and Booker draft legislation is the first serious look at cannabis legalization for the Senate and I am hopeful that the equity-centered policy reform and regulation led by our members at the state and local levels will continue to shape this historic bill.

Across the country, we have seen the positive impact of sharing our informed insights, testimony and proposed amendments aligned with our organization’s founding principles. As active stakeholders overseeing policy and implementation in the existing cannabis industry, CRCC will continue to actively engage with the Senators’ teams, providing industry best practices and cannabis competency gained from our collective and diverse experiences.”

Controlled Substance

One provision within the legislation is a requirement that the attorney general removes cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act within 60 days of the bill’s enactment. However, it continues to allow states to choose prohibition if they like. This would mean that it would still be federally illegal for a company to send cannabis to a state that has chosen prohibition. However, the states apparently wouldn’t be able to stop businesses from shipping cannabis products across state lines to other states where cannabis is legal.

Nancy Whiteman, CEO, Wana Brands said, “Federal decriminalization would also enable manufacturing and then shipping across state lines which would greatly benefit brands like Wana. Supply chains will become more efficient and cost-effective as plants would be grown in appropriate outdoor climates and other materials could be sourced across markets. For a company like Wana, it means that we would be able to manufacture and ship out of regional or national facilities instead of recreating the wheel in every market.”

could marijuana legalization unite a divided country — Photo by strelov/Getty Images

Government agencies would all get in on the act. The Bureau of Labor Statistics would begin compiling data on jobs and employers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would be required to work with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on ways to promote cannabis research. The HHS would also work with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on data collection for marijuana-impaired driving while also supporting research into “an impairment standard for driving under the influence of cannabis.”

Feedback

The public will have until September 1 to comment on the language of the bill. Marijuana Moment drilled down to summarize the main points for feedback:

Measuring the potency of cannabis products, the overlap of definitions for hemp and marijuana, regulations for synthetic THC, regulatory responsibilities for various federal agencies and FDA funding.
Coordinating federal and state law enforcement responsibilities for cannabis, state “primacy regarding cannabis regulation” and interstate commerce.
Balancing efforts to reduce barriers to entry to the marijuana industry while mitigating the influence of illicit cannabis operators.
Determining whether cannabis products should go through a premarket review before being marketed.
How to deal with international treaty obligations with respect to marijuana.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit comments on these and other issues to Cannabis_Reform@finance.senate.gov by September 1.

Next Steps

The legislative draft that the Senators came up with was based partially on a bill that the House passed in December. It included similar language that would remove some federal penalties, feature a form of expungement and address social equity issues. The House vote at the time was split mostly down party lines and very few Republicans voted for the bill. It seems expungement is a sticking point for many Republicans. The likelihood of this legislation getting the votes in the Senate is low. Even Schumer suggested it was merely a jumping-off point to start the conversation.

“We’d certainly listen to some suggestions if that’ll bring more people on board,” Schumer said. “That is not to say we’re going to throw overboard things like expungement of records — very important to us — and other things like that, just ’cause some people don’t like it.”

This article originally appeared on Green Market Report and has been reposted with permission.

3 Vices Americans Are Choosing Over Cannabis

Amelia Williams

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July 14, 2021

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3 Vices Americans Are Choosing Over Cannabis

Compared to the other activities on this list, cannabis doesn’t cause or exacerbate any disease, it won’t give you a hangover, and it probably won’t empty your savings account.

As of July 2021, cannabis has been legalized recreationally in 18 states and medically in 36 states and additional territories, with census data indicating that states with legalized cannabis accounting for a majority of national population growth. That’s a lot of joints being burned every day. But has cannabis become our nation’s number one vice? Data point to no.

Scrolling through social media or taking a trip to a legal state’s big cities, it’s easy to assume everyone is smoking cannabis these days in favor of other activities. But as it turns out, most of the people with legal access to cannabis aren’t in a hurry to spark up; a Gallup poll from 2019 indicates only about 12% of Americans smoke cannabis, but isn’t clear on how often. And while new surveys indicate certain demographics, like seniors, are using it more and more frequently, it still trails a number of more harmful American pastimes.

Drinking alcohol

Binge Drinking Plummeting in States With Legalized Marijuana — Photo by MxfcoxycH_Y via Unsplash

Per capita, the United States ranks 25th in global alcohol consumption, and over 85% of American adults have consumed alcohol in their lifetime. While there’s nothing wrong with a glass of wine with dinner, an estimated 25% of adults binge-drink, and as many as 15 million Americans have an alcohol use disorder.

Smoking cigarettes

What's More Harmful, Cigarettes Or Blunts? — Photo by Donny Jiang via Unsplash

Despite a downward trend, around 14% of American adults regularly smoke cigarettes. Tobacco use, according to the CDC, is the leading case of “preventable disease, disability, and death” in the United States. Smoking remains especially prevalent in vulnerable populations, like indigenous communities, disabled people, and people living below the poverty line.

Gambling

How To Get Your Money Back After A Bad Purchase — Photo by Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash

All states except Utah and Hawaii permit some form of legal gambling, an industry that brought in over $43 billion in consumer spending in 2019, and 15 percent of Americans gamble weekly. The National Council on Problem Gaming estimates two million American adults have a severe gambling problem, with up to six million experiencing repercussions due to their behavior.

Looking at these numbers, maybe more people should try cannabis. Compared to the other vices on this list, cannabis doesn’t cause or exacerbate any disease, it won’t give you a hangover, and it can’t empty your savings account in the blink of an eye. Stigma and lack of access have clear influences on who consumes, but times are changing.

COVID-19 Delta Variant: 4 Things You Should Know

Maria Loreto

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July 14, 2021

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COVID-19 Delta Variant: 4 Things You Should Know

The COVID-19 Delta variant is the most prominent strain within the U.S. Here’s what you should know.

The COVID-19 Delta variant is on everyone’s minds. While several countries have taken great strides in inoculating their population, this variant has been making appearances in a variety of places, including the U.S.

Here’s what you should know about this strain of COVID-19:

Why are people concerned?

5 ways cannabis can improve your summer — Photo by McKinsey via rawpixel.com

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delta variant can spread more easily than the original coronavirus. It has mutations on the spike protein that make it easier to be transmitted from person to person, infecting human cells more rapidly.

According to the Washington Post, the Delta variant is 50% more contagious than the original coronavirus, with every person infected spreading it to three or four people. As of June, the Delta variant is the most prominent strain within the U.S.

What about symptoms?

How To Stop Coughing So Hard From Marijuana Smoke — Photo by cottonbro via Pexels

While the degree of contagion is concerning, when it comes to symptoms, the Delta variant is very similar to the original form of the virus. There are persistent coughs, headaches, fever, and sore throat.

Data from the U.K., which has been tracking the development of the Delta variant since before the U.S., shows that there was less prevalence of cough and loss of smell. The most reported symptoms included a runny nose, headache, fever, and sore throat.

Is it more deadly?

This COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effect Is More Common Than Expected — Photo by CDC via Unsplash

The delta variant is significantly more dangerous for people who are not vaccinated. Communities with low vaccination rates have seen significant jumps in cases over the last couple of weeks in areas like the Midwest and the south. For people who are vaccinated, infections are rare. Two doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine were 88% effective against disease and 96% percent effective against hospitalization.

When it comes to how deadly it is, data from the U.K. shows that this variant is more likely to result in hospitalizations and death, especially among those who are unvaccinated.

Should we mask up again?

How CBD Topicals Can Compliment Your Mask Wearing — Photo by EVG photos via Pexels

There are different opinions on the matter. While the CDC advised for only unvaccinated people to remain masked up, the WHO is suggesting for everyone to wear masks. On behalf of the CDC, Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke to CBS News. “If there are any changes that would instigate making a change in recommendation, that will happen,” he said. “But for now, the CDC recommendation stands that if in fact you are fully vaccinated, you are protected and you do not need to wear a mask outdoors or indoors.”

4 Foods To Avoid In A Heat Wave

Maria Loreto

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July 13, 2021

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Our body temperature is affected by many things, including what we eat. Here are some foods we should avoid when facing a heat wave.

Not only can heat waves be incredibly uncomfortable, they’re also more dangerous than you think. Our bodies are so sensitive to this than what you eat and drink can have an effect on how you feel and can impact your health when exposed to extreme temperatures.

Heat and sun are things that we normally can’t get enough of, especially if we live in a cold climate area. While chilly temperatures also come with their risks, the heat is easier to ignore and, thus, more likely to result in dehydration, heatstroke, and more.

When taking care of yourself and battling the heat, what you eat can have an impact, ranging from what feels like it’s obvious to what doesn’t. Here are 5 foods to steer clear of when it’s really hot out:

Coffee and tea

Should You Mix CBD With Your Morning Coffee? — Photo by Nathan Dumlao via Unsplash

Aside from the fact that they’re hot (unless you have them served over ice), these drinks have strong diuretic properties and are not the best thing to consume when you want to quench your thirst. When it’s hot out, it’s important to hang on to our liquids, and consuming large amounts of coffee or tea, even if they’re iced, might deprive us of this.

Alcohol

We probably don’t need to tell you this, but alcohol can quickly dehydrate our bodies. Once it enters our system, our liver will try to flush out alcohol’s natural toxins. Dehydration normally results in hangovers. When braving really hot conditions, this is made worse since stress and strain from the heat could trigger a more complicated episode.

Spicy foods

5 Ways To Tell If You Have A Bad Relationship With Food — Photo by Artem Labunsky via Unsplash

Spicy foods aren’t the first thing that come to mind when it’s hot out and that’s because it’s not nice to have spice sweats when you also have regular sweat to deal with. Science explains that capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers, can temporarily increase our body temperature. When the weather is very hot out, try your best to keep your body as cool as possible.

High protein foods

5 Food Rules You Should Ignore — Photo by Szabo Viktor via Unsplash.

Proteins like red meats feel heavy in your stomach. This is due to the fact that they ask a lot of your body in order to be fully processed, forcing your body to do a lot of heavy lifting, resulting in thermogenesis. This is normal, but it creates a lot of heat, which should be avoided during really hot days. Lighter foods, like fruits, are easier to process and produce less heat.

Sha’Carri Richardson: World Anti-Doping Agency Claims US Consistently Pushed For Cannabis Prohibition, Is Anyone Surprised?

Benzinga Staff Writer

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July 13, 2021

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Sha’Carri Richardson: World Anti-Doping Agency Claims US Consistently Pushed For Cannabis Prohibition, Is Anyone Surprised?

The beat goes on as agencies play the blame game while the fastest woman in the world is still sitting out the 2021 Olympics.

By Natan Ponieman

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued a public response to a cascade of reactions from U.S. Government officials regarding Sha’Carri Richardson’s disqualification from the Tokyo Olympics due to state-legal marijuana use.

Background: Last week, several congressional lawmakers stated their position to the inclusion of cannabis on WADA’s list of prohibited substances, urging the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to revise its decision to disqualify the 21-year-old sprinter.

USADA claimed it was obliged by WADA regulations to impose penalties on Richardson, though “its own views are different” when it comes to which substances are on WADA’s prohibited list.

The White House, through the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, joined the fray and announced its intention to meet with WADA to discuss cannabis policy.

The World Anti-Doping Agency Speaks Out

In a public letter signed by Witold Banka, president of WADA, the agency explained that the process by which cannabis is annually included in the list of prohibited substances is consistently reviewed by global experts via a process wherein U.S. representatives have substantial, if not overly represented, voting rights.

The letter was directed specifically to Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamie Raskin, who last week issued a statement saying USADA’s anti-marijuana policy perpetuates anti-drug policies that negatively affect communities of color and urged both USADA and WADA to reconsider their verdict regarding Richardson.

WADA annually publishes the Prohibited List with an expert advisory group of 12 international members, three of whom are from the U.S., thus giving the United States more weight and representation than any other nation. It currently includes USADA’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Matthew Fedoruk.

Cannabinoids On WADA’s Prohibited List

Cannabinoids have been on the Prohibited List every year since WADA began supervising it in 2004.

As opposed to claims made by USADA, which essentially blamed WADA for Richardon’s disqualification, WADA stated in a letter that “at no time since the first Prohibited List was published in 2004 has WADA received any objection from U.S. stakeholders concerning the inclusion of cannabinoids on the Prohibited List,” said Banka.

“On the contrary,(…) the U.S. has been one of the most vocal and strong advocates for including cannabinoids on the Prohibited List.”

Athletes Will Use CBD This Olympics And Here's Why — Photo by Getty Images/Staff/Getty Images

Banka said that submissions received from the U.S. for nearly two decades, in particular from USADA, have consistently advocated for cannabinoids to remain on the Prohibited List and insisted that “the argument that some have advanced indicating that U.S. anti-doping stakeholders are bound by antiquated thinking regarding the Prohibited List is not supported by the facts.”

However, Banka pointed out that, over the years, several such changes have been made to the list, and there is nothing preventing additional changes to be made in the future if everyone agrees.

Can Sha’Carri Richardson’s Disqualification Be Overturned By WADA?

The agency’s president said that WADA plays a coordinating role in the development and publication of the Prohibited List and as such “is not in position to vacate the results of Ms. Richardson’s test in Oregon…”, imposed by USADA, “nor the decisions of USA Track and Field regarding her participation at the Tokyo Olympics.”

USADA said in a public statement that because Richardson accepted the outcome, there is no longer any legal process to challenge or reverse it.

Benzinga’s Take: While it’s unlikely that Richardson will participate in the Tokyo Olympics after her disqualification, it’s fair to believe that the domino effect catalyzed by her disqualification could have significant consequences in future iterations of WADA’s Prohibited List, leading to possible changes in the inclusion of cannabis as a prohibited substance.

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

Why Crypto In Cannabis Might Take On Mainstream

Benzinga Staff Writer

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July 13, 2021

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Why Crypto In Cannabis Might Take On Mainstream

As crypto develops and evolves, it will no doubt deepen its link to the cannabis industry.

By Jose Rodrigo Safdiye

Since the eruption of altcoins, the crypto space has experienced a wide variety of wonders and unexpected events. Smart contracts, Lighting network, DeFi, scams, bubbles and failed projects to name some of the most obvious. In the midst of this frenzy, a fascinating concept appeared: Cannabis Crypto.

Some view these tokens as a possible solution to the cannabis industry’s banking problem that stems from the DEA’s outdated Schedule I status of marijuana as a controlled substance thus making it impossible for the entire industry to access banking institutions, essentially forcing cannabis companies to operate outside of insured banking systems.

As such, many are wondering if cryptocurrency might be the solution the industry is seeking. Might this be the way to bypass regular banking systems without a federal bill?

Presently the relationship between cryptocurrencies and cannabis is in its infancy but will likely unfold and flourish in the near future as crypto adoption levels increase and technology becomes more sophisticated.

When examining cannabis-specific crypto, the most established at the moment is POT coin (CRYPTO: POT), a low radar alt-coin that experienced a huge pump & dump after Dennis Rodman wore a POT T-shirt at his now-infamous public meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. While the T-shirt, like the meeting itself, made waves internationally, this type of appearance is never healthy for a financial instrument that’s meant to be used as a long-term method of exchange. It now ranks #1135 in CoinMarketCap.

The main issues cannabis tokens encounter are adoption, market capitalization and aiming. Instead of bringing new tech along with innovative proposals, these cryptos fail to confront the problem faced by the industry.

They also fall short because cannabis cryptocurrencies do not provide any innovation in their technology and are limited to a single industry, thereby narrowing their potential market outreach. A currency must be widely used and desired to be adopted by publicly traded companies.

In Addition, Cannabis Cryptocurrencies Cannot Answer A Simple Question

Why should companies use them?

The fact that they are publicly related to cannabis is not enough. The problem lies in the fact that alt-coins fail to differentiate themselves from other coins. Most companies would prefer to use ETH, BTC, BNB, USDT, or any of the other top 25# Crypto.

It would be unwise for a cannabis company to rely on any of the existing “Cannabis Crypto.”

Line Messaging App Launching Cryptocurrency In Hopes Of Gaining Users — Photo by rawpixel.com

We asked Tyler Beuerlein, Hypur’s chief revenue officer, why his company did not utilize crypto when undertaking its daily financial transactions as a way to bypass the banking system.

“Combining one highly-regulated product with another highly-regulated industry is a non-starter for banks and regulators. A company’s dependence on crypto could negatively impact its financial operations in the face of numerous potential consequences. They could suffer from unpredictable value fluctuations, increased tax liability, and even the loss of a company’s bank accounts or banking partnerships,” Beuerlein told Benzinga.

“It is likely much riskier for a business to use crypto to bypass traditional banking. Cryptocurrency actually needs banking because the funds associated with digital assets eventually must be converted into traditional currency. Moreover, contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of legal cannabis businesses are in fact already banked anyway.”

What About The Future?

A possible way for the industry to adopt a specific blockchain-based token could be to form strategic partnerships with well-positioned companies. This would make the token more stable and ease the way for smaller businesses to also adopt it. If this is not the case, businesses would tend to choose non-cannabis-specific tokens or other financial instruments.

Blockchain technology also provides cannabis manufacturers with the possibility of precisely tracking their production process from seed to sale, therefore guaranteeing customers quality control and vigilant product supervision.

“Unless central banks begin to tokenize their currencies, due to their practicality, immediacy, and cost-saving, I believe that so-called stablecoins have a chance of slowly joining in international trade operations,” Franco Amati, co-founder of NGO Bitcoin Argentina and Signatura, told Benzinga in an exclusive interview.

Bitcoin — Photo by QuinceMedia via Pixabay

“For the rest of what we call ‘crypto,’ although tech will continue to progress, in the near future it won’t stop being a niche tool.”

As for now, unless someone comes up with a way to revolutionize the market, cannabis-specific cryptos remain impractical for the industry. Nevertheless, dispensaries would be wise to provide crypto payment methods to customers who choose to follow that financial trend.

Unlike cannabis, which has been consumed since the dawn of civilization, crypto is new to humanity. As it develops and evolves, it will no doubt deepen its link to the cannabis industry. For the moment, traditional financial services remain the best option to provide what the industry requires. As such, cash is still king when it comes to cannabis sales.

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

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As crypto develops and evolves, it will no doubt deepen its link to the cannabis industry.

In Addition, Cannabis Cryptocurrencies Cannot Answer A Simple Question

What About The Future?

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