Cannabis Banking Act Begins…Again

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March 18, 2021

SAFE Banking Act would protect financial institutions from federal prosecution for providing banking and other services to cannabis businesses that are in compliance with state law.

The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act was reintroduced in the House of Representatives today. This bill, which was introduced by Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Steve Stivers (R-OH), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), and Warren Davidson (R-OH), would provide a safe harbor for banks and other financial institutions working with state-legal cannabis businesses.

“Thousands of employees and businesses across this country have been forced to deal in piles of cash for far too long,” said Rep. Perlmutter. “It is time to enact SAFE Banking to align federal and state laws and reduce the public safety risk in our communities. I appreciate the partnership of the cannabis industry and businesses across this country who have added their voice to this effort. The SAFE Banking Act is an important first step to treating cannabis businesses like legal, legitimate businesses and beginning to reform our federal cannabis laws.”

In the last Congress, this legislation was the first cannabis policy reform bill brought to the floor of the House in recent history with 206 co-sponsors, and was the first to be approved by either chamber of Congress with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 321-103 in September 2019. The bill moved to the Senate but was delayed due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The House also approved two separate pandemic relief bills last year that included the legislation’s language.

“At a time when small businesses need all the support they can get, and after cannabis businesses specifically have been providing essential services and generating significant tax revenues for states and the federal government with little to no financial relief, it is more imperative than ever to get the SAFE Banking Act passed into law,” said Aaron Smith, co-founder and CEO of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA).

“Lack of access to banking services continues to create serious unnecessary issues for public safety, transparency, and access to traditional lending that smaller operators desperately need. These businesses are contributing billions of dollars to the national economy every year, and need to be treated like any other legal regulated industry. We are grateful to the sponsors of this legislation who have generated strong and consistent bipartisan support year after year, and we are confident that it has a clear path to approval again.”

The NCIA said in a statement that the SAFE Banking Act would protect financial institutions from federal prosecution for providing banking and other services to cannabis businesses that are in compliance with state law, as well as help address serious public health and safety concerns caused by operating in predominantly cash-only environments. NCIA said, “The legislation would make traditional lending more accessible for the cannabis industry, helping alleviate the lack of access to capital that has presented major hurdles for smaller businesses. It would also mandate a study on diversity in the cannabis industry. The latest version makes clear that protections would extend to financial services providers working with the hemp industry as well.”

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

Is It Bad For Big Alcohol And Big Tobacco To Help Shape Marijuana Legalization?

Mike Adams

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March 18, 2021

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Is It Bad For Big Alcohol And Big Tobacco To Help Shape Marijuana Legalization?

It might not take long before the deep pockets of Big Alcohol and Big Tobacco all of a sudden start swaying political opinion.

Marijuana advocates have done their best to keep the industry as pure and untainted by corporate crooks as possible. But like it or not, Big Alcohol and Big Tobacco have infiltrated the scene and are working with federal lawmakers to help shape policy geared toward nationwide marijuana legalization.

Seriously, several heavy hitters from the alcohol and tobacco trade recently launched a federal lobbying group to press the flesh of pot-friendly politicians on Capitol Hill and get marijuana laws passed in their favor. In other words, marijuana has been hijacked.

This new development isn’t sitting well with the national cannabis advocacy group NORML. The organization argues that it has dedicated the past several decades to changing the minds of the American people with respect to marijuana. Their goal for national cannabis reform has always been to give people the freedom to “possess and consume marijuana responsibly without being either criminalized and stigmatized.” NORML has no interest in commercializing the cannabis plant. They claim lobbying groups, like those recently formed, will put corporate interests ahead of the American pot consumer.

“While these industries have been raking in billions of dollars over the past decades, NORML has been fighting for your rights to possess and consume cannabis legally,” wrote NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri. “Now that we have made so much headway, these corporate interests are seeking to swoop in and shape the landscape in a manner that works best for them, not for you.”

But how does the average cannabis consumer feel about it? Is the thought of marijuana being controlled mainly by Big Alcohol and Big Tobacco a concern, or is it no big deal as long as weed goes legal?

NORML recently conducted a survey to get to the bottom of these questions. It turns out that most cannabis consumers aren’t too excited about these alcohol and tobacco corporations taking over the cannabis industry. Around 47 percent of the respondents said it “greatly concerns” them, and they’d like NORML to step in and try to stop them. Meanwhile, 31% said it’s only concerning “when businesses lobby for policies that conflict with consumer issues.”

Twelve percent doesn’t think NORML should waste resources trying to intervene. These people, perhaps naively, believe the “market will sort these issues out on its own.” Another 10% of the respondents think the cannabis “focus should be on policies that impact individuals, not business.”

replace your favorite alcohol drinks with these cannabis equivalents — Photo by Natasha Kapur via Unsplash

But is there anything cannabis advocates can do to stop Big Alcohol and Big Tobacco from absorbing the marijuana money train? Probably not. The industry doesn’t have enough clout of its own to shake things up in D.C., and they in no way have the kind of funding available to compete with the alcohol and tobacco trade.

Marijuana lobby groups only dropped $4 million last year on policy persuasion, while the alcohol and tobacco groups contributed $60 million. The fact that these two business sectors have banded together to ensure marijuana policy is drafted to benefit their businesses is like a bunch of professional MMA fighters showing up at a schoolyard and kicking the crap out of a couple of eighth-graders. It’s not really going to be much of a fight.

Nevertheless, Big Marijuana is still looking to influence Congress. Last month, a marijuana lobbying group called the U.S. Cannabis Council (USCC) was assembled to advance federal cannabis reform. But unlike the group overseen by Big Alcohol and Big Tobacco, the USCC is focused on furthering federal marijuana legalization and social equity. “USCC is a unified voice advocating for the descheduling and legalization of cannabis,” USCC Interim CEO Steven Hawkins, Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project and a founding member of USCC, said in a statement. “Legalization at both the state and federal level must include provisions ensuring social equity and redress for harms caused to communities impacted by cannabis prohibition.”

Which of these lobbying groups will the U.S. Senate listen to when it comes to passing comprehensive cannabis reform this year? There will likely be a lot of support for any lobbying group pushing social equity. Giving back to communities ravaged by the Drug War is a hot topic right now among cannabis advocates. It’s actually something that the U.S. House addressed last year with the passing of the MORE Act.

However, while pure reform might catch an early lead, it might not take long before the deep pockets of Big Alcohol and Big Tobacco all of a sudden start swaying political opinion. This is America, after all, and money talks. Especially in Congress.

Marijuana Reform Could Lose Out This Year To ‘Scorched Earth Senate’

Mike Adams

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March 18, 2021

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Marijuana Reform Could Lose Out This Year To ‘Scorched Earth Senate’

Perhaps it would be wise to sabotage the filibuster in 2021 and push marijuana reform at full throttle.

Senate Democrats are hoping to push a “comprehensive” cannabis reform bill in the coming months. However, talks about eliminating the filibuster, an old-time rule that requires a 60 vote supermajority, has Republican leaders hissing and spitting.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky threatened a “completely scorched earth Senate” earlier this week if Democrats so much as change the rules. If that happens, any hope of marijuana legalization could be doomed. Democrats need Republican support for cannabis reform to stand a fighting chance.

Several reports indicate that Senate Democrats have been discussing privately making changes to the filibuster. They are trying to figure out a way to get rid of this old rule, which allows a single senator to object and jam up a bill’s progress. It’s a stall tactic created way back in the day, whereby senators could spend hours jabbering against legislation to prevent it from passing. McConnell wants this rule to remain in play. It’s the only thing that still gives him any power. Yet Democrats understand that it could prevent them from making more progress this session.

It’s for this reason that President Biden wants the filibuster changed. Rather than what it has become, he recently told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos that he’d like to see it revert back to “what it used to be when I first got to the Senate back in the old days.” Biden said, “you had to stand up and command the floor. You had to keep talking. You’ve got to work for the filibuster,” he continued. “It’s getting to the point where, you know, democracy is having a hard time functioning.”

But a dysfunctional Senate is something that McConnell strives to keep. On Tuesday, the Kentucky Republican straight-up admitted that nothing concrete would get done in the Senate if Democrats altered the filibuster. “So let me say this very clearly for all 99 of my colleagues. Nobody serving in this chamber can even begin to imagine what a completely scorched-earth Senate would look like,” McConnell barked. “None of us have served one minute in a Senate that was completely drained of comity and consent. This is an institution that requires unanimous consent to turn the lights on before noon, to proceed with a garden-variety floor speech.”

Mitch McConnell Plans To Run Pro-Marijuana Democratic Majority Out Of Senate In 2022 — Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

“I want our colleagues to imagine a world where every single task, every one of them, requires a physical quorum,” McConnell continued. “Which, by the way, the vice president does not count in determining a quorum. This chaos would not open up an express lane for liberal change … The Senate would be more like a 100-car pileup, nothing moving.”

This fight over the filibuster is nothing new. It’s part of the reason that it took so long to negotiate a power-sharing agreement between McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. McConnell didn’t want to sign-off on anything until Schumer swore in writing not to touch the filibuster. He later backed off that demand after learning that the Democrats didn’t have the votes to make it happen. But now, the pressure is on to make the change.

Pointing out how the filibuster was used to stall the Civil Rights Act of 1957, Senator Rick Durbin of Illinois recently said, “the filibuster is still making a mockery of American democracy.” Still, it remains uncertain whether liberal Democrats have persuaded conservatives to go their way. Many are not in favor, and the party needs every Democratic member to sign on in order to disrupt the filibuster.

So far, Democrats look like they are kicking crack and taking names on the Hill this session. The recently approved $1.9 trillion COVID-relief bill was a big win. But the bill was pushed through without Republican support through budget reconciliation. It’s a situation where a simple majority vote is needed to pass. Democrats have the majority in both chambers, but it is by such a thin margin that it’s almost treacherous. To that end, Democrats cannot rely on the budget reconciliation tactic to pass everything on their agenda, including marijuana reform. Any cannabis-related measure picked up by the Senate in the coming weeks could be filibustered to death.

white concrete building under cloudy sky during daytime — Photo by Harold Mendoza via Unsplash

Unfortunately, to pass a comprehensive marijuana bill this year, Senate Democrats need to amend, if not kill, the filibuster. It has been done before, so it’s not out of the scope of imagination.

Yet, if what McConnell says is true, pushing more of President Biden’s agenda could prove challenging if they go that route. McConnell wants Democrats to know that any mission they accomplish by changing the filibuster would be repealed once Republicans win back the majority. Once again, this could include marijuana legalization. “As soon as Republicans wound up back in the saddle, we wouldn’t just erase every liberal change that hurt the country—we’d strengthen America with all kinds of conservative policies with zero input from the other side,” McConnell asserted.

Some argue that getting rid of the filibuster is the only way Democracy can survive, that it’s only through an abuse of the rule that it’s even on the chopping block to begin with. It could be argued that Democrats should strike while the iron is hot and force McConnell and crew to contend with the aftermath however they see fit. Sure, Republicans could go medieval the next time they have control — it could be following the midterms — but Democrats should at least try to level the playing field and put democracy back to work in Congress. Eventually, Republican strong arm tactics will no longer bode well for them in the election process; ultra-conservative ideas and a blatant disregard for most of the population will catch up with the party and force a pivot.

Therefore, perhaps it would be wise to sabotage the filibuster in 2021 and push marijuana reform at full throttle. Let the Republicans contend with the backlash that would surely arise from trying to resurrect prohibition.

Lung Cancer And Smoking Weed — Here’s What You Should Know

Cannabis

Maria Loreto

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March 17, 2021

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Lung Cancer And Smoking Weed — Here’s What You Should Know

Smoking tobacco has long been associated with lung cancer. When it comes to smoking marijuana, the evidence is more complex.

Smoking has always been linked to lung cancer, but scientists have never found a precise answer when it comes to the risk that comes with marijuana use. As marijuana slowly earns legal status and respect across the nation, it’s becoming more and more important for health experts to determine some of the risks.

One of the biggest questions people have regarding marijuana use is whether or not smoking it poses the same risks as smoking tobacco, which is one of the main causes of lung cancer. Discover Magazine spoke with several experts in order to paint a clearer picture on the relationship between the two.

Study: Cannabidiol Shows Promise As Treatment For Tobacco Addiction — Photo by christian acosta via Unsplash

“The unfortunate short answer is that we just don’t really know that much,” said Deborah Korenstein, chief of General Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Korenstein and some researchers analyzed existing data on lung cancer and marijuana and only found 25 studies on the matter. “There were problems with almost all of them that really limited our ability to draw conclusions,” she said.

Depending on the study, marijuana use has been shown to decrease, increase and have no effect when it comes to cancer risk. These results are difficult to obtain and studies are difficult to conduct, primarily because the drug is illegal on a federal level. Making matters worse is the fact that until a couple of years ago, marijuana use was seen as something bad, making people much more reticent when sharing their marijuana use with health experts.

While there were no definite conclusions, some links were found between marijuana smoke and chronic bronchitis. Still, there was no evidence that suggests that marijuana use increases the risk of lung cancer, which might be explained because of the marijuana itself or because marijuana is smoked with less regularity than tobacco is.

“If somebody smokes one joint a day, every day, that’s a pretty heavy [marijuana] user. But if somebody smokes one cigarette every day, that’s a really light user,” said Korestein. “Like a two-pack-a-day smoker — you can’t function in life if you smoke that much marijuana.”

More research is necessary in order to get a clearer picture when it comes to the risks and benefits of marijuana use. The more that legalization proceeds and develops, the better

7 Challenges Facing The Cannabis Industry In 2021

Green Market Report

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March 17, 2021

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7 Challenges Facing The Cannabis Industry In 2021

The future is bright for the expanding herb industry, and there’s never been a better time to grow your own bud business.

Despite the damages caused by the global pandemic, the cannabis industry had a remarkably successful 2020. While most businesses closed their doors, many local governments deemed dispensaries and equipment shops essential, allowing them to remain operational.

The public gained a new appreciation for flower, using it as a form of stress-relief, causing sales to skyrocket. Market expansion snowballed a new wave of legalization efforts in states such as New Jersey and Arizona, with an estimated one-in-three gaining recreational herb access in their state.

Additionally, the booming industry produced countless prosperous entrepreneurs. Between herb-centered boutiques and flower-infused food trucks, there are endless ways to run a successful ganja business. Every niche market and curated head shop raises the industry to new heights, and experts estimate the market will be worth $73 billion by 2027.

In the years ahead, the budding community will undoubtedly reach new peaks and face new obstacles. Before you join the flower power movement, consider these seven challenges the industry will face in 2021.

Limited banking services

Federal condemnation of herb has created substantial financial difficulties for budding business owners. In fear of facing federal prosecution, banks will refuse to grant cannabis companies loans. A lack of options forces herb shops to rely on risky private lenders and investors, resulting in severe economic instability.

More Legal Marijuana Equals Less Crime? Not So Fast — Photo by nattrass/Getty Images

Cash-only operations

Since ascertaining loans is near impossible for herb brands, most businesses continue to operate exclusively in cash. Cash-only businesses drive away potential customer bases who prefer to avoid physical currency, especially during a global pandemic. Additionally, keeping large sums of money at a storefront puts businesses at a higher risk of theft and vandalism.

Lack of insurance

Ambiguity in state and federal regulations has placed bud businesses in the high-risk category. To avoid being held criminally liable for supporting the sale of herb, insurance companies stay far away from ganja brands altogether. Furthermore, some proprietors would rather go uninsured than wade through the intricate legal jargon. Without the security of insurance, companies expose themselves to a myriad of liabilities.

Stigma

Unfortunately, misconceptions have shrouded the organic herb in mystery for most of its existence. Widespread misinformation coupled with federal illegality has clouded the public’s minds, leaving many with a sour taste in their mouth during talk of legalization. Many people still view the herb as a dangerous “gateway” substance that leads to sinister criminal activity.

Difference Between A Marijuana Dispensary And A Liquor Store — Photo by mikroman6/Getty Images

Firearm legislation

This lesser-known threat poses a sizable obstacle for the industry. Gun legislation known as The Firearms Transaction Record is a mandatory form that every purchaser must sign. The document denied firearm sales to buyers who use bud products regardless of legality. Strict regulations further enforce flower stigma, causing many to avoid conversations of legalization.

Brand differentiation

The budding industry has inspired thousands of creative businesses, and every company must work to differentiate itself. A simple budtender recommendation simply doesn’t cut it anymore. Without careful brand strategizing, the average herb brand risks fading into irrelevance.

Green Wednesday Cannabis Sales Blow Away Black Friday — Photo by Ivan-balvan/Getty Images

Federal reform

Perhaps the biggest challenge faced by the hemp industry is the lack of regulation at the federal level. Still labeled as a controlled substance, flower products are inaccessible in the majority of states. The federal prohibition of herb has limited how far the market will expand, although many industry leaders are cautiously optimistic that reform is coming.

Bottom line

The future is bright for the expanding herb industry, and there’s never been a better time to grow your own bud business. As you find a place in the cannabis community, consider how you will face approaching obstacles.

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

Why Dentists Recommend Not Brushing After You Eat

Maria Loreto

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March 17, 2021

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Why Dentists Recommend Not Brushing After You Eat

Some dentists warn against brushing your teeth right after eating. Here’s why.

Brushing your teeth is one of those habits that’s viewed as unquestionably beneficial. For the most part, it’s safe to assume that you can never brush your teeth too much, or during inconvenient times of the day. But dentists say that brushing your teeth after you eat has some negative side effects that could be detrimental to your health.

While it makes perfect sense to brush your teeth after you eat, you should wait awhile before you do it. Here’s why: Digestion starts in the mouth, creating an acidic environment right after you’re done eating.

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

“When you eat foods containing sugar (or simple starches that break down into sugars inside your mouth), cavity-causing bacteria inside your mouth feed on the sugars and produce acid. When your teeth are exposed to a highly acidic environment, it temporarily weakens your enamel (the hard, outer surface of the tooth) by causing it to lose minerals,” pediatric dentist Dr. Jin Lin told Best Life. “Rubbing your enamel with a toothbrush when it is in this weakened state may further damage the enamel.”

Brushing your teeth might spread the acid in your mouth around, causing harm when paired with the rubbing motion of the brush.

You should wait at least an hour after you eat to brush your teeth. This amount of time allows your digestion to move past the oral stage, eliminating that acidic environment that could have occurred when you consumed those foods. Once an hour has passed, your saliva will do its job and return your mouth’s pH back to a normal state, which is what you want when you brush your teeth.

Senate Democrats Needs To Look At Real Cannabis Reform

Mike Adams

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March 17, 2021

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Senate Democrats Needs To Look At Real Cannabis Reform

While the Dems have majority rule in both chambers of Congress, the margin is so slim that it’s going to take some bare-knuckle politics to pass anything on their agenda.

The U.S. Senate is expected to address nationwide cannabis reform in the coming months, and the cannabis industry can’t wait to see how it’s going to look. Some think Congress will try to pass a bill to legalize marijuana at the federal level. In contrast, others believe that, given the complexities of the Hill this session, Senate Democrats needs to look at real cannabis reform, not just what is out currently.

Unfortunately, the bare minimum could involve a bill known as the SAFE Banking Act. It’s a measure that would allow financial institutions to do business with the cannabis industry without a DEA raid. And if this bill is the best that the new Democratic Congress can do for Americans, well, they should just give them another stimulus check or something.

The SAFE Banking Act is not cannabis reform.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and crew appear eager to pass legislation that does more than connect banks with the weed business. At the beginning of February, Schumer, along with Senators Cory Booker and Ron Wyden, released a joint statement revealing their dedication to passing “comprehensive cannabis reform” in the new session — retribution for decades of drug war savagery.

The Senators wrote:

“We are committed to working together to put forward and advance comprehensive cannabis reform legislation that will not only turn the page on this sad chapter in American history, but also undo the devastating consequences of these discriminatory policies. The Senate will make consideration of these reforms a priority.”

Does Democratic Senate Really Have Enough Power To Legalize Marijuana Nationwide? — Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The keyword in the statement is “consideration.” While the Democrats have majority rule in both chambers of Congress, the margin is so slim that it’s still going to take some savoir fare and perhaps even some bare-knuckle politics to pass anything on their agenda. It is going to be tough to get a comprehensive cannabis proposal approved in the Senate. Many Republicans still aren’t about weed enough to get onboard. However, Democrats need some support across the aisle to get it done.

Even President Biden wants to be careful.

Biden has said that he would support decriminalization and medical marijuana, but he doesn’t think a full-scale taxed and regulated cannabis market is suitable for the United States. At least, not yet. So, we don’t know what the Senate thinks it can accomplish under these conditions, but comprehensive isn’t it.

Cannabis experts believe the most likely scenario this year is a marijuana-related bill that mimics three popular pieces of legislation that have been making the rounds on the Hill over the past few years. There is the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which was passed in a historic vote by the entire US House of Representatives last December; the States Act, a bill that simply forces the federal government to recognize state-level legalization efforts, and the SAFE Banking Act — a measly banking bill disguised as cannabis reform.

Whatever mutated version emerges from the pile will likely only equate to marijuana decriminalization and not a taxed and regulated market. Even modest reforms will be a tall order this year. Democrats must find a way to make a bill palatable to Republicans, especially Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and come to terms on its reach. That seems unlikely given the divisiveness of Congress. Remember, Senate Democrats have only promised to give the cannabis issue “consideration.” No promises have been made. They understand that getting a bill approved is going to be a knockdown dragged-out fight — and it’s one they will probably lose.

We just hope the party’s desperation to pass a marijuana bill doesn’t get the best of them, causing a push for a bare minimum measure like SAFE Banking. Although more pot businesses could make deposits — plenty of banks are already working with the cannabis industry — Americans would still get busted for weed. Nothing about this legislation can be called cannabis reform. Senate Democrats needs to look at real cannabis reform and continue the fight.

Cannabis For Arthritic Joints Gives Millions A New Option

Medical Marijuana

Terry Hacienda

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March 17, 2021

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Cannabis For Arthritic Joints Gives Millions A New Option

One of the biggest medical reviews to study cannabis and pain indicated that there is “substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.”

Joint pain, or arthritis, is any kind of inflammation, pain, or discomfort from any joint within the body. It can also be from any part of the joint, including the tendons, muscles, ligaments, bone, and cartilage.

The pain itself can be varying in degrees; for some it can be mild while for other people it can be excruciating, resulting in limited movement even with basic everyday activities such as walking, bathing, or dressing up. There are many causes of joint pain, ranging from certain conditions such as fibromyalgia, bone cancer, or gout, though other times it can come with age, weight gain, gender, or caused by a sprain.

There are more than 54 million people in the United States alone that suffer from joint pain. There are also over 100 different kinds of arthritis pain, yet pain is a central feature for all of them. Despite that, many arthritis conditions don’t look and act similarly. Current treatment available ranges, and is recommended by doctors depending on factors such as the pain levels, the kind of joint pain or arthritis, and the overall health of the patient. The primary goal of treating it is to enable patients to manage their pain, increase strength, and joint mobility.

Pharmaceutical medications may be recommended for treatment, with or without exercise, the use of heat or cold, but in extreme cases surgery may be needed. In some cases, occupational therapy may also work.

However, despite all these, many patients still struggle with dealing with joint pain. That’s why so many people have been turning to cannabis.

How Cannabis Helps

There are numerous studies proving that the two primary compounds of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are extremely helpful for treating joint pain. Aside from the many anecdotal reports that it does work better than many drugs, opioids included, the studies are there to prove it. More importantly, the studies available show that cannabis products are safe and well-tolerated by humans.

A Gallup poll, whose results were released in August 2019, showed that around 14% of Americans said that they use CBD products for a range of health reasons, though the number one cause is pain. Additionally, a poll conducted by the Arthritis Foundation revealed that 29% of people use CBD, and out of those respondents, a majority of them reported that they saw significant improvement in well-being, physical symptoms of pain, and sleep.

In fact, you probably already know someone who is using cannabis for pain. And why not? There are no side effects and it’s not addictive, unlike opiates. One of the biggest medical reviews to study cannabis and pain indicated that there is “substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.”

whats next for rheumatoid arthritis and cannabis — Photo by gilaxia/Getty Images

While CBD has become more popular as the primary choice for pain, especially among patients who don’t want to get high, there’s also THC for those who don’t mind. “THC activates certain cannabinoid receptors, one of which is in the nerve cells and the other is in the immune cells. When it activates the one in the nerve cells, it reduces the sensation of pain,” explains Steve Alexander, a University of Nottingham Medical School associate professor.

“A little bit of euphoria can help us not care that we’re experiencing quite as much pain, much in the same way that other pain medications work,” adds Angela D. Bryan, a neuroscience and psychology professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Depending on the kind of joint pain you have, you can explore different ways of medicating with cannabis. For example, studies show that CBD is ideal for treating inflammatory pain, which is common among those suffering from injuries or arthritis. Scientists believe that CBD works in many ways to reduce inflammation, one of these ways is by blocking the inflammatory markers. Other studies show that CBD increases the work of glycine receptors which are responsible for regulating pain and as a result, reduce neuropathic pain.

On the other hand, studies show that THC is good for neuropathic and central pain, or pain caused by cancer, fibromyalgia, AIDS, and other similar conditions. THC also contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties so they target the problem at its very root.

There is no one-size fits-all solution when it comes to cannabis for joint pain; it’s recommended to speak to a doctor who has experience working with cannabis. They would be the best resource to recommend products or strains that can be of the best help for your specific joint pain condition.

Types Of Cannabis Products To Try For Joint Pain

Topical: Balms and lotions infused with cannabinoids are helpful in treating joint pain. They provide localized pain relief since they are applied directly on the affected area. Some products are also made with additional ingredients such as camphor, menthol, or capsaicin, which further help to alleviate joint pain.

Inhalation: Many studies have revealed that when it comes to treating pain, inhalation is the most effective way to do so. You can inhale cannabis products through a joint or using a vape pen. Just be sure to purchase your product from a reputable manufacturer to avoid the risk of consuming unknown chemicals.

Oral: Consuming cannabis, whether it’s THC or CBD, in oral form can provide therapeutic benefits to joint pain in slower onset compared to topical or inhalation, but relief will last for a much longer time. You can also make use of cannabis drops placed under the tongue, or using a tincture or spray for a quicker onset through oral administration.

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

Time For Nasdaq And NYSE To List US Cannabis Companies

David Feldman

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March 16, 2021

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Time For Nasdaq And NYSE To List US Cannabis Companies

The timing of federal legalization, which presumably would trigger the exchanges’ willingness to list, is uncertain at best. So to my good friends at the U.S. exchanges, it’s time.

Yesterday a major special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger announcement made some exciting news in cannabis. The Nasdaq-listed SPAC agreed to merge with four different US cannabis companies that are growing, processing and selling state-legal cannabis, with an over $200 million value. But the SPAC will have to delist from the Nasdaq upon closing and trade in the over-the-counter markets. Now is the time for Nasdaq and NYSE to list cannabis companies.

They must take this action because the major U.S. national exchanges, the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange still refuse to allow strong and growing American cannabis companies that “touch the plant” to have their stock listed. Frankly it’s a shame that this is continuing and your humble blogger believes it is time for that to change. Here are the main arguments I hear from them and, frankly, why they don’t make sense:

“Cannabis is federally illegal.” Maybe so. But the SEC allows these companies to go public with appropriate risk factors. FINRA allows their stock to trade. Each of you has listed stocks of “ancillary” businesses providing software, vaporizers and real estate to these companies, arguably aiding and abetting that federal crime. And you list CBD companies, some of whose products remain prohibited by the FDA. How exactly is this different?
“We could be hit with money laundering charges.” As we know, there is a federal statute, renewed every year in the federal budget, which forbids the use of federal enforcement dollars against state-legal medical cannabis. In addition, the feds have taken a very low priority approach to enforcement of state-legal adult use since the famed Cole Memo was issued in 2014, and that includes during the Trump Administration. And even in the worst of enforcement times, in the Bush and early Obama Administrations, hundreds of state-legal operations were shut down, but zero cases were brought against any third parties such as lenders, investors, lawyers, banks, or stock exchanges or trading platforms for working with these companies. So what is this risk of which you speak?
“Our reputation could be impacted.” Reputation with whom? In every public survey in the last 3-5 years, 90% of Americans support legalizing medical cannabis and nearly 70%, including a majority of Republicans polled, support legalizing adult use. You are willing to list stocks from other controversial industries such as casino gambling and strip clubs. Also, those who would smite you for this presumably would feel the same about your listing ancillary businesses that help the growers and sellers. And if that’s your real concern why list Canadian plant-touching companies, which you have happily done? Why continue to list GW Pharma which developed a cannabis-based federally legal drug? Why continue to list ScotsMiracle-Gro which is supplying products to the industry, or Microsoft which partnered with a company providing software to states to manage their cannabis regulation?

Wall Street Disruptors Fuel Cannabis Investor Flameout — Photo by lo lo via Unsplash

Here is why it could be critical for these exciting growth companies to list their stock on an exchange:

More analyst coverage of the stocks, leading to more attention and hopefully more trading volume.
More access to institutional investors, many of whom are prohibited from investing in over-the-counter stocks.
More protection for investors in these companies due to the stronger governance and listing requirements of the exchanges.
An end at last to the migration of US plant touching companies to reorganize in Canada solely so that they can list on an exchange up there.
More potential global mergers and acquisitions, in particular with large Canadian companies, who are waiting for the exchanges to approve listings before moving into the States.

I love my good friends at the OTC Markets, led by the amazing Cromwell Coulson. But even Cromwell understands the importance of OTC companies “graduating” to exchange listings, and they even enjoy bragging about how many companies do so each year. So this is not about OTC. The timing of federal legalization, which presumably would trigger the exchanges’ willingness to list, is uncertain at best. So to my good friends at the U.S. exchanges, it’s time.

As you see there really is no reason, other than decades-old, long since debunked stereotypes, misinformation and fear-mongering, to explain your continued reticence to earn lucrative listing fees and benefit investors.

David N. Feldman, Esq. is a partner in the boutique law firm Hiller, P.C. and is Co-Founder and CEO of Skip Intro Advisors LLC. This article originally appeared on his blog and has been reposted with permission.

New York Inches Closer To Legalization

Green Market Report

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March 16, 2021

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“Passing marijuana reform, and legalizing recreational marijuana. We’ve tried to do that for the past three years. We have to get it done this year,” said Gov. Cuomo at a press conference yesterday.

During a press conference Monday at a vaccination site in Long Island to provide an update on COVID-19, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo touched on marijuana, saying “passing marijuana reform and legalizing recreational marijuana” remains a priority and that he spent the weekend speaking with Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D), who is the sponsor of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), “working through” the legislation. He said they are “very close on marijuana.” However, some of the sticking points on getting the legislation passed include decisions surround growing cannabis at home and continuing the use of stop and frisk measures when cannabis is smelled.

Melissa Moore, New York State Director of the Drug Policy Alliance and member of Start SMART NY Coalition (Sensible Marijuana Access through Regulated Trade) said, “Today’s Siena poll confirms that New Yorkers across the board are overwhelmingly in favor of marijuana legalization. Nearly 60% of New York State residents support legal marijuana for adult use. Literally every single category of voters from every corner of the state — women, men, liberals, conservatives, from upstate, downstate and everywhere in between — supports legal marijuana now. Given this broad-based mandate, it is imperative that the absolute best marijuana reform bill becomes law. We urge swift passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (S.854/A.1248) to secure justice, jobs, and equity for the millions of New Yorkers that have borne the brunt of marijuana criminalization and restitution for the communities most harmed by the war on drugs. The time to act is now.”

“We’ve tried to do that for the past three years, we have to get it done this year,” he said. “There’s been too many young lives that have been ruined because of the marijuana laws.”

The actual language is as follows:

Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act: The Assembly proposes to continue discussions with the Executive and the Senate to provide for the legalization and regulation of the cultivation, production, sale of cannabis and cannabis products for adult-use, expanding the existing medical cannabis program and address the collateral consequences of the criminalization of cannabis. The Assembly supports the establishment of a centralized regulatory approach for the licensure and regulation of medical, adult-use, and hemp-based cannabis and cannabis products and businesses through the creation of a regulatory body comprised of legislative and executive appointments, as well as ex-officio agency representation from agencies involved in implementation.

New York Gov. Cuomo Wants To Legalize Weed, But It Won't Be Easy — Here's Why — Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images

The Assembly also supports provisions to: reduce criminal penalties attributed to future cannabis-related activity; expand the ability of individuals to vacate or expunge certain lower level past cannabis convictions; protect legal rights in the workplace; ensure appropriate standards and protections are in place as it relates to public assistance, child care workers, foster parents and investigations of child abuse, neglect, and endangerment involving the use of cannabis; provide access to business mentoring, application process assistance, incubators, capital and other social equity programs necessary to support the long-term success of social and economic equity applicants as part of a plan to award percent of adult-use cannabis licenses to individuals in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by past criminalization of cannabis, communities of color, minority- and women-owned business, disadvantaged farmers and service-disabled veterans; establish a reasonable tax structure related to the sale of adult-use cannabis; provide for personal cultivation; ensure access to medical cannabis is maintained and expanded; recognize community priorities through local opt-out provisions from the adult-use market; and other priorities deemed necessary and appropriate.

The Assembly maintains that it is critically important that revenue generated from legalization of cannabis be invested in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by past criminalization of cannabis, including creating a Community Grants Reinvestment Fund. Therefore, the Assembly will further continue discussions on how to direct revenue to ensure that funds will be used for: public education; job creation, skills development and training; social justice and reentry services for impacted communities; substance use disorder services and mental health services; community-based supportive services; expanded training for state and local law enforcement to maintain driver safety; and any other uses deemed necessary and appropriate.

“This is not about getting in the red zone anymore,” Cuomo added. “We have to get over the goal line this time. We need the seven points.”

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

You can read the full transcript of Cuomo’s presser here.

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