More women are getting ‘false positives’ from their mammograms after getting COVID-19 shots. Here’s why.
Mammogram centers around the country have reported an increase in node swelling on the areas surrounding the breasts—a worrisome statistic for many women that resulted in stress, biopsies and further testing. After noticing this trend, doctors asked their patients some questions and discovered that a lot of them had received at least one dosage of the COVID-19 vaccination.
Swollen lymph nodes are always a cause for alarm, suggesting infections, cancer, and more. They’re also a normal response when bodies are fighting or processing an infection, as is the case with most vaccinations. And during the current pandemic, the number of people experiencing this has resulted in a significant percentage of the population.
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Dr. Lars Grimm, associate professor of radiology at Duke University, told CNN that it’s important for doctors to make it clear that a biopsy isn’t always the next step when encountering these kinds of results; swollen nodes can suggest many different things and should encourage doctors to dig deeper.
“You actually have some women who want to biopsy,” said Grimm. “You might tell them, ‘Hey, I think this is due to your Covid vaccine, and I’m sure that it’s going to resolve in a few weeks on its own and you’re going to be fine.’ But that patient tells you, ‘I’m not going to be comfortable waiting, I want to know now.'”
Swollen lymph nodes aren’t only being spotted in mammograms; according to doctors that work across different fields, this reaction has resulted in those who’ve experienced other types of cancer unnecessary stress, not to mention extra trips to the hospital and additional testing.
Photo by National Cancer Institute via Unsplash
In order to avoid situations like this, medical experts are recommending getting your annual mammogram before your vaccine is scheduled, or waiting a couple of weeks until you’ve had your full inoculation to schedule your mammogram.
What health experts have been prioritizing since the start of the year is that people should make the time and take the necessary precautions in order to follow through with their planned health checks. Significant amounts of people have been facing health crises unrelated to COVID-19 and it’s very important to address them.
If the Governor doesn’t leave, his infamous political swagger will be reduced, and he might be more willing to give in to some of the legislature’s demands.
Unless you have turned off the news, you are aware that Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) of New York has been accused by three women of inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment and unwanted contact. Reliable rumors also suggest several more are about to come forward.
This follows a growing scandal relating to apparent delay in releasing information about deaths in NY nursing homes during the height of the pandemic. Calls are increasing from members of both parties for New York’s 56th Governor, in office since 2011, to resign or, possibly, be impeached by the Democrat-controlled NY legislature (though this is unlikely). In a statement today, he vowed not to resign. If he stays in office or leaves, an important question for those in the cannabis industry is: what will happen to the latest effort to legalize weed in New York?
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The New York budget process must be completed by March 31, and it is through that process that the parties have tried to legalize marijuana in 2019 and 2020 and now again in 2021. This year was different, said all. First, the state is urgently in need of cash thanks to COVID, and the taxes from weed sales, expected to exceed $300 million, would help. Second, with New Jersey passing adult use in November and Connecticut and Pennsylvania looking to do the same, the pressure to avoid folks leaving New York to buy weed grows. That said, until the scandals broke, there were still fairly large differences between the Governor and the lawmakers in their negotiation.
If the Governor does not leave, clearly his infamous political swagger will be reduced, and he might be more willing to give in to some of the legislature’s demands for greater social equity and control over where tax dollars go. Alternatively, he may move his focus entirely to addressing the scandals and simply check out of the process, which could be damaging or fatal to legalization. In Wednesday’s statement, however, he said “I’m going to cooperate with the attorney general’s investigation and do the budget. We did a budget last year in the spring in the heat of COVID, where it was the most intense period of my life, of this government’s life, of this state’s life, and we did both, and we’ll do both here.”
If he does resign, little known Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul becomes the state’s leader (and, nice extra benefit, the first female Governor of NY). Raised in upstate New York, Hochul is considered a moderate Democrat who has focused on issues like women’s health and safety, though some say her views have become more progressive in recent years. In January, she gave an interview with Cheddar regarding the effort on adult use. She called legalization “long overdue” following “failed cannabis prohibition.” She noted the “disproportionate impact [of prohibition] on communities of color,” concluding, “Let’s get it done.” As with our excitement for spring’s long anticipated arrival in 18 days, industry advocates remain hopeful.
Houseplant, a company that sells marijuana and useful paraphernalia, is a project Rogen has been working on for the past 10 years. Products will be available for sale in California starting next week. The internet promptly freaked out.
Rogen, one of Hollywood’s biggest proponents of weed and maker of stoner comedies, made the reveal on Monday through a video he Tweeted. He calls Houseplant the work he’s most proud of.
Almost ten years I go, I envisioned having my own weed company. And today I can say that my company Houseplant’s weed will be available in California next week! Also, Houseplant is making lovely Housegoods like ashtrays, lighters, and YES, even ceramics. https://t.co/TNjpWFhbWBpic.twitter.com/00xR8QKNH3
Houseplant not only sells weed personally vetted by Rogen himself, but also ashtrays, lighters, ceramics and plenty of accessories.
This is our Pancake Ice sativa. (All our strains are named after weather systems like we did with Pineapple Express). Our Pancake Ice is what I smoke all day. It’s over 33% THC. pic.twitter.com/buLcuLwZgg
Because it’s Seth Rogen, the internet responded to the news with great excitement, jokes and varying degrees of inferiority since Rogen has apparently mastered ceramics and launched a weed business throughout the course of the pandemic while the rest of us have survived and baked bread. Anyway. Here are some of the best reactions prompted by Rogen’s announcement:
Some reports indicate the cannabis component is on its way to becoming the next rockstar cannabinoid of the legal weed movement.
There have been several reports over the past year or so suggesting that people all over the country who use hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products are failing drug tests. This is apparently happening as the lack of FDA regulations has allowed cannabis companies to be inconsistent in their manufacturing process.
So, while these products are only supposed to contain no more than 0.3% THC (not enough to get you high or cause a failed drug screen), some have more. But a 2019 study suggests that CBD users really don’t have much to worry about when it comes to the possibility of failing a drug screen. However, if they are using another emerging, cannabis-derivative known as cannabinol (CBN), they might be putting themselves at risk.
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Researchers at the University of Utah Health Science Center say that CBN users could have a difficult time passing a drug test. It seems that while examining a handful of cannabinoids to determine which of them, if any, might react with immunoassays — the most common type of drug test available — they found that CBN was more likely to cause a false positive for marijuana than other cannabinoids, such as CBD or cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG).
Specifically, the study shows that the Beckman Coulter Emit II Plus Cannabinoid test can register a positive for pot with as little as 100 ng/ml CBN. Researchers say drug testing pros should keep this in mind.
“These findings will help with interpreting drug screening immunoassay results,” said lead researcher Grace Kroner, Ph.D.“If physicians and laboratorians know a patient is taking CBN, they can consider that if they get a positive from an immunoassay. On the flip side, providers can also be more certain when they get a positive marijuana result that it’s not due to pure CBD oil alone. These results are always assay dependent, though, so the field needs to keep this in mind.”
Photo by KLH49/Getty Images
Although most Americans have not yet heard of CBN, some reports indicate the cannabis component is on its way to becoming the next singled out rockstar cannabinoid of the legal weed movement. Anecdotal studies have shown that it may have just as many therapeutic properties as our old friend CBD.
It is presently being marketed as a sleep aid, even though there is apparently little evidence to prove its efficacy. But lack of proof has not stopped CBD from becoming one of the hottest crazes to sweep the United States since The Beatles. Why should CBN be any different?
Unlike CBD, the cannabis plant doesn’t produce a lot of the CBN compound on its own. It is more prevalent through the breakdown of THC. Without getting overly scientific, CBN is created when THC is heated (flame or sunlight) and becomes exposed to oxygen.
Photo by Zbynek Pospisil/Getty Images
Interestingly, CBN manifests naturally, the older the cannabis gets. This means the weed you found underneath your couch the other day that, by your best assessment, has been there since 1994, probably contains more CBN than THC. And just like CBD, CBN is also found in hemp, which is now legal nationwide. This is one of the reasons that some predict the CBN compound is on the verge of breaking onto the scene in significant ways.
Still, for those who decide to use this product to help combat insomnia, the warning is you might find yourself in an unsavory situation due to a failed drug test. However, it is safe to say that more research is needed before we have a grip on the pros and cons of this or any other cannabinoid.
Consumers, though, should be leery of both CBD and CBN products currently finding their way to market. A recent report from Forbes shows that some of these products are sometimes being manufactured using dangerous chemicals, including synthetic marijuana.
The CDC is finalizing guidelines for people who’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19. Here’s what we can expect.
After months of inoculations, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is finalizing guidelines for those people who’ve been vaccinated, including whether or not they’re able to gather with others in person and they’re public behavior when they’re out of their homes.
The CDC has been explicit in its orientations, for the past year advising for social distancing measures and mask wearing for people who come from different households, suggesting that virtual means are the safest way of socializing with others.
Photo by Steven Cornfield via Unsplash
According to Politico, the new guidelines for vaccinated people will allow them to meet up with small groups of people of different households without much of a risk. Still, those who’ve been vaccinated will still have to comply with other safety measures, like wearing masks in public and maintaining social distance. These guidelines are expected to be finalized by the end of the week and released at some point after.
People who have received both shots are now the group at lowest risk for the virus, with science suggesting that they should be able to return to a semblance of normalcy sooner rather than later. Still, some experts are concerned with the speed in which states are loosening up safety and distancing measures due to the shift in the pandemic, which could make a comeback if people are not careful.
“The goal in those first 100 days has always been to sort of make sure that we are in a place to be out of this pandemic,” said CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “At 70,000 cases per day, we’re not in that place right now.”
It remains important for people to be patient and to avoid significant movement and exposure to the virus. The rate of reopening businesses and other public institutions must be on par with the rate of inoculations. Thanks to a third vaccine in circulation, this process will hopefully pick up in the coming weeks.
Despite more Americans supporting federal legalization of cannabis, many people still don’t know about the industry’s potential to harm the environment.
Just like other agricultural commodities, there are environmental impacts involved when growing cannabis. But many consumers don’t know, or simply don’t care how their cannabis was grown or even if it was sprayed with harmful chemical pesticides. Here is how to find sustainable cannabis and why it is important for you.
Tons of carbon is emitted into the atmosphere too just to grow a single cannabis plant. However, there is a growing number of people who do care how their cannabis was grown, and if they are produced with care to reduce its impact on the environment.
With climate change the number one issue our earth faces today, it’s important for you to help make a positive change by looking for products — your cannabis included — from brands or manufacturers that work to reduce their carbon footprint.
Cannabis is one of the oldest agricultural commodities out there, and more grow operations continue to sprout because of demand for the product. However, growing it using modern techniques especially in indoor grows requires massive amounts of energy and water, which have a major carbon footprint. Despite more Americans supporting federal legalization of cannabis, many people still don’t know about the industry’s potential to harm the environment.
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That’s not to say that the industry as a whole has a fault, it’s just that awareness of sustainable growing techniques are still lesser known but there are many companies out there who have made it their mission to provide customers with sustainably-grown cannabis all while complying with local regulations.
And there’s a market for it: survey says that cannabis consumers are willing to shell out more money for clean and green products.
What Does Sustainable Cannabis Growing Involve?
It’s estimated that a grow house uses up around the same energy to produce a kilogram of cannabis flower as driving a vehicle across the United States as much as 7 times. That’s a LOT of energy. And it’s no secret that there already is a need for making energy more efficient for the industry.
Having said that, sustainable cannabis growing doesn’t just apply to big-name players and cannabis corporations, and doesn’t exclude the location of your grow whether it’s indoors or outdoors. Mom and pop setups and even cannabis startups can also do the same when it comes to their exhausts, grow lights, and fans. And no matter what the size of your grow op is, you can still have total control over the quality of nutrients you use on your plants, since many pesticides and packaged plant fertilizers are made with chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
Aside from reducing the impact of your grow on the environment, another major way that businesses can reduce their carbon footprint is by using more eco-friendly packaging options. This can be a challenge because some cannabis laws in certain states especially when it comes to edibles require them to be individually wrapped, which means that candies and other such items that contain CBD or THC need to be self-contained and have the proper labeling, while liquid medications should provide their own cups.
How To Find Sustainable Cannabis
Being informed means you’re one major step ahead. Educating yourself on the various types of products out there and learning to decipher among a massive amount of tempting cannabis variations will enable you to make an informed choice that will play a big role in reducing your impact on the environment, whether you consume for fun or whether you need it for medicine.
Sierra Club, a renowned authority on practices we ordinary people can do to help save the planet, released a list of helpful tips to help cannabis consumers become more green. Here’s what they say:
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Look for labels: There are numerous third-party certifications available in the cannabis industry, which, albeit small, still give peace of mind that certain products have been given the green light on sustainability. Some that you can start looking for include Certified Kind,Cannabis Certification Council, and Dragonfly Earth Medicine. There are also additional certifications that go to products, verifying that they made an effort to reduce electric consumption to produce their goods.
Opt for sun-grown cannabis: Indoor cannabis operations are notorious for the vast amounts of energy they consume to grow pot. On the other hand, sun-grown cannabis makes use of resources that are already naturally available, like sunlight of course! This is an excellent alternative to indoor-made products that use artificial light on top of massive nutrients, fertilizers, pesticides, and temperature-controlled environments. Simply look for packages that indicate they are made with “sun-grown” practices.
Look for eco-friendly packaging: Once you start looking, you might be surprised to find that many cannabis products are packaged in a sustainable manner, such as with recycled or recyclable packaging.
Go for simpler products: The simpler to produce, the less energy was required from the environment. So if you have a choice between buying cannabis oils which required tons of processing as compared to raw cannabis flower in a glass jar, go for the flower.
Look for laboratory tests: There are cannabis products that come with testing results at the very least, or a Certificate of Analysis. These tests are required for being sold at dispensaries in legal states, so this should be a quick and easy step you can do. They test for harmful ingredients such as mold and heavy metals, meaning they aren’t just cleaner for the environment but safer for your health, too.
These are just some helpful tips to get you started on your path to becoming a more environmentally-conscious cannabis consumer. What are your favorite eco-friendly cannabis brands?
In recent years and to this day, researchers have been focused on learning more about CMV and how people can help treat and/or prevent this virus from happening.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common herpes virus that’s also known as HCMV, CMV, or human herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5). Cytomegalovirus can affect babies and adults alike, and it’s the most commonly transmitted virus to a developing fetus. Essentially, CMV is a form of herpes that you don’t want to pass onto your significant other because it could have long-term effects on your future offspring, among other things.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of adults have been diagnosed with CMV by the age of 40. Usually, those affected by cytomegalovirus show few or no symptoms. However, once an individual is infected with CMV, it remains within the body for life, and at any point, can reactivate. People of all ages can be infected with cytomegalovirus, but fortunately, various precautions can be taken to prevent it from occurring.
As the medical community and researchers gain more knowledge about CMV, studies like this one HERE are providing more informative and helpful details about the virus including ways to prevent the occurrence of it and how to effectively fight it.
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Top Five Cytomegalovirus Facts
Once an individual is infected with CMV, the type of treatment that’s pursued is based on different factors, especially specific symptoms and their severity. Being well informed about cytomegalovirus can significantly help prevent the occurrence of it, which begins with these five key facts:
There are three types of cytomegalovirus consisting of congenital, primary, and reactivation:
Congenital CMV occurs when a baby inherits the virus from the mother before birth, and it’s worth noting that around one in five babies with congenital CMV infection will have long-term health problems
Primary CMV refers to the first time an individual is infected with CMV, which doesn’t typically cause any serious symptoms
Reactivation CMV occurs when the infection that was once dormant becomes active again once an individual’s immune system is weakened
Those infected with cytomegalovirus may be able to keep the virus from causing illness if they have a healthy and strong immune system
A large majority of people infected with CMV don’t show any major symptoms
CMV can be passed onto others through saliva, blood, urine, semen, and breast milk
Individuals with weakened immune systems and those born with CMV are more likely to experience severe symptoms and/or long-term health issues as a result of being infected
Photo by Dean Mitchell/Getty Images
Major CMV Preventative Measures
Although cytomegalovirus can affect anyone regardless of their age, one silver lining is that different precautions can be taken to prevent CMV, which include the following:
Proper hygiene, especially washing hands often and thoroughly
Avoiding contact with saliva and tears when kissing a child
Not sharing food, glasses, or kitchen utensils with others
Safely and properly disposing of diapers, tissues, and other potentially contaminated items followed by thorough hand washing
Practice safe sex by using condoms during sexual contact
In recent years and to this day, researchers have been focused on learning more about CMV and how people can help treat and/or prevent this virus from happening. Clinical trials like this one HERE are being performed by research groups with the goal of helping the healthcare community not only learn more about CMV, but also develop solutions.
So far, experimental vaccines are being tested for women of childbearing age, with the goal of an effective inoculation that’s safe and useful in preventing CMV infection in both mothers and babies.
When In Doubt, Schedule a Doctor’s Appointment
Most people infected with CMV show no noticeable symptoms, but this doesn’t apply to everyone. It’s possible to experience symptoms, such as a sore throat, fever, swollen glands, or fatigue. If you have any of these symptoms, or if you have any reason to believe you may have been infected with CMV through other means, we suggest scheduling a doctor’s appointment to receive a proper diagnosis and/or treatment plan. Being proactive not only helps protect you and your partner, but also your future child/children among other parts of life including your love life.
National treasure Dolly Parton got inoculated and filmed herself while it happened.
The world exhaled a collective sigh of relief yesterday when Dolly Parton posted a video of herself receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. She joked that she “got a taste of her own medicine,” alluding to the fact that she was one of the investors of the Moderna vaccine. The internet is, of course, extremely relieved.
According to reports, the 75-year-old donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University in 2020 in order to help them find a cure for COVID-19 and speed the process along.
Parton also uploaded a video of her talking about her decision to take the vaccine, calling herself “old enough” and “smart enough” to take it. She then proceeded to sing a version of “Jolene” where she replaced the name with the word “vaccine.” It’s great.
The video is three minutes long and it explains the process of the COVID-19 shot pretty thoroughly, with Parton introducing her doctor, putting on her face mask and then having him inject her. Aside from encouraging eligible people to get their shots, Dolly also provides us with sensible clothes to wear when out for a vaccination; a dress with some fancy holes on the upper side of her arms.
Dolly Parton calling out anti-vaxxers by singing “cos once you dead then that’s a bit too late.” Queen of public health pic.twitter.com/hiY8K4dhF8
Before injecting Parton, the doctor asks her whether she has any serious disorders or allergies, to which she said no. After the shot, Parton said that the process didn’t hurt at all.
Be like Dolly and, if eligible, sign up to get your COVID-19 shot.
You can blow through your cannabis stash pretty quickly. Here are some tricks that can help extend its use.
It’s not a great feeling to reach for your weed supply only to find out there’s very little left. Regular marijuana users burn through their cannabis quickly, even if they’re not smoking copious amounts. If this is you, it might be a good idea to pace yourself. Fear not, there are ways of spreading out your cannabis without feeling like you’re consuming any less. Here are 5 hacks that can make your cannabis last longer.
Grinder with kief-catcher
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While a kief catcher won’t save you a lot of weed, it could add some dimensions to your smoking and provide with something you don’t usually use. Kief is the tiny, sticky crystals that cover the cannabis flower, which are usually potent in terms of effects. Kief is strong and can be used to cover a bowl or a joint, making the high much more powerful, which in turn, helps the joint or bowl last for longer periods of time. New to kief? Here’s a primer on how to use it.
Instead of waking and baking or sitting down at the end of the day and smoking your anxiety away, microdosing can help you obtain better results while also spreading out your weed. If you microdose with glassware, your results will be even better, giving you a more thorough understanding of the amount of weed you’re consuming and are going through.
As is the case with most purchases, the larger the order, the more you save. Of course, it’s very important to know how much you buy, that way you won’t have any weed going stale. Before purchasing in bulk, keep an eye on how much cannabis you spend and how long it takes to consume it. Once you have these numbers at hand, head over to your favorite dispensary and buy what you need. And to make sure none of that weed goes to waste, here are 8 Ways To Properly Store Marijuana For Freshness.
While making edibles is a weed-heavy project, depending on the way you consume them you might end up actually saving some money. Edible highs can last for longer than three hours, which is ostensibly longer than the high you could get from smoking.
Smoke solo
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Another tip that’s very helpful, especially when living through a pandemic, is smoking solo. While smoking weed with friends is fun, it’s very easy to lose track of how much you consume and the amount of money you spend. If you’re looking to save some weed and money, the best thing you can do is have an understanding of how much you smoke, try to spread it out as much as you can while still having fun, and shop accordingly.
The last 10 years saw a dramatic increase in consumption and there is every reason to believe that the trend will continue.
Cannabis business consulting firm Nucleus One recently released the findings of their February 2021 Massachusetts Adult-Use Marijuana Market Report. Nucleus-One tracks and analyzes data from the Cannabis Control Commission of Massachusetts.
February’s report heralded good news for the Commonwealth’s cannabis industry after a short-lived decline in sales in 2020. Since the decline, December and January 2021 saw unprecedented sales, with over 98 active retailers in the state. This growth is due to higher sales in product categories other than flower shares, which hit an all-time low in December.
The Commonwealth’s uptick isn’t confined to the retail space, as the largest Massachusetts operator (measured by active agents), NETA, and its parent company Parallel prepare to go public following a SPAC Agreement with Ceres Acquisition Corp. On the regulatory front, the CCC published new Medical and Adult Use Regulations in January, which will create a more hospitable environment for this thriving market. Also supportive of 2021’s promising growth are Northampton’s move to waive the community impact fee of 3% on gross sales for cannabis businesses and upcoming discussions about eliminating the vertical integration requirement for medical operators.
The last 10 years saw a dramatic increase in consumption and there is every reason to believe that the trend will continue. The number of final licenses granted is up 134 percent from January 2020, with January 2021 sales up 68 percent from the previous year. The number of employees in Massachusetts’ cannabis industry rose by 72 percent from last year, and operators harvested 48 percent more plants than a year earlier.
Licensing can be a long, laborious and expensive process for entrepreneurs to navigate, but on that front, too, there is encouraging news. The number of final licenses in the Commonwealth has more than doubled over the past year and a record 25 final licenses were granted in January. A total of 724 licenses have been approved and 389 provisionally approved across the Commonwealth, though marijuana is still banned or partially banned in over 120 communities in the state.
Boston in particular has the highest number of pending retailer licenses, with Brockton coming in a strong second. Smaller operators make up the majority of the 571 new active agents added by the Commonwealth, with all but 8 of the top 25 operators increasing their number of active agents compared to data from December
With daily sales averaging $2.8 million in January 2021, the Massachusetts adult-use market is now worth $1 billion annually, which is certainly correlated with the spike in the number of retail locations from 33 in December 2019 to 94 by December 2020. Sales benefited from a holiday shopping boost, and have sustained that momentum at around $30k per day per store well into 2021.
Despite changing buyer behavior, such as steep declines in daily sales on Thursdays and Fridays attributed in part to the pandemic and disrupted commuting routines, overall numbers remain strong with more than $1.26 billion worth of cannabis products sold through the adult use market between November 2018 and February 2021. With big operators like NETA going public, favorable regulations making the books, and a user-friendly licensing process welcoming more new businesses to the market, the future is bright for Massachusetts’ cannabis economy.
