We Need To Educate Children And Adults About ‘Drug Education’

Opinion

-

December 14, 2020

We Need To Educate Children And Adults About ‘Drug Education’

Over 22 million marijuana arrests later, the political consequences of Reefer Madness are still being hidden from the American people.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article solely belong to the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Fresh Toast.

Parents are understandably concerned about their children being “indoctrinated” as they are supposedly being “educated”, but the general public should also be concerned, especially when the government has been lying to everyone for decades about marijuana.

Decades of “Reefer Madness” with absurd claims about marijuana endangered children by undermining effective education about really dangerous drugs… and  adults about really dangerous government. Over 22 million marijuana arrests later, the political consequences are still being hidden from the American people.

For example, in a 2002 interview with the Baltimore Sun,  John Walters, George W. Bush’s Drug Czar was asked about marijuana:

“It is by far the single largest factor in illegal drug addiction in the country. … The conventional view out there today is that marijuana is a soft drug, that marijuana is harmless and that it is not addictive, and there is no withdrawal. It’s not just a gateway drug. … If you are not talking about marijuana, you are not talking about the central part of the problem. (Emphasis added)

SEE: CBD Is Not A Narcotic Says EU. Duh, Says I.

Now, 18 years later, with the House of Representatives having finally voted to end marijuana prohibition, the Drug Enforcement Administration is baaack with a new website, “Just Think Twice”.

Maybe I missed “Just Think Once”, perhaps a sequel to “Just Say No”, but compared to the DEA’s old Party Line…???

First, the Reefer Madness is gone, but not repented. Please forget that the DEA has lied to the American people, and the rest of the world, for decades. In its place is a relatively accurate description of the possible adverse consequences of marijuana use.

Graphic by mohamed_hassan via Pixabay, Leaf by cheifyc via Pixabay

For example:

Q: IS MARIJUANA ADDICTIVE?

A: Possibly.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:

“Marijuana use can lead to the development of problem use, known as a marijuana use disorder, which takes the form of addiction in severe cases.”

The problem with that statement is simply the lack of a definition of “addiction” as opposed to “obsessive/compulsive” behavior. (Gambling, hoarding, etc.)

Unlike alcohol, barbiturates and benzodiazepines, (Xanax, etc) and other central nervous system depressants, marijuana withdrawal isn’t life threatening. 

And of course, the DEA could not resist talking about “potency”:

“In addition, a lot of the marijuana consumed presently (emphasis added) has a higher level of THC (the chemical that causes the drug’s “high”). Researchers still don’t know about the long-term effects of using high THC marijuana.”

SEE: What Americans Can Learn From A British Study On Hashish Potency

AND: Trump’s Surgeon General Takes Reefer Quackery to a New Low – Protecting New Mothers from Their Protectors

Sometimes even their honest answers are misleading:

Q: IS MARIJUANA A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE?

A: Yes. (True)

Then “Marijuana is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.”

(Completely untrue.)

This where we need to revisit Orwell’s “Memory Hole.

Although, this new website is certainly more honest than its predecessors, that is “faint praise” indeed. The “editorial conference” for this website must have been difficult. 

However, to see how limited the DEA’s evolution has really been see PREVENTING MARIJUANA USE AMONG YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS “This publication gives you everything you need to know about marijuana — from the long-term effects on your brain, to whether or not it’s still considered a “gateway drug.” 

And their answer to “Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug?

“Some research suggests that marijuana use is likely to precede use of other licit and illicit substances. Marijuana use also is linked to substance use disorders, including addiction to alcohol and nicotine.”

Actually, alcohol and nicotine use usually precede marijuana use, but remember this is still the DEA.

Richard Cowan is a former NORML National Director and author of Fascinating Facts About Hemp You Might Not Know.

Millennial Cannabis Consumers Are Influenced By..

Javier Hasse

-

December 13, 2020

0

Gen Z and Millennial cannabis consumers currently make up 38% of the marketplace in fully legal states, but they are often tough-to-reach by traditional means.

Many brands often struggle with figuring out what young people like. Fortunately for cannabis companies, a new report out of strategic advisory studio Headquarters (HQ) has some answers. The big question if to find out who Gen Z and Millennial cannabis consumers are influenced by and why.

According to the HQ Cannabis Brand Affinity Report, hip-hop, R&B, fashion, social media influencers and gaming are among the top interests young lifestyle cannabis consumers share.

The study was issued in collaboration with The Statement Group (SG), a quantitative and qualitative brand strategy consulting firm. It breaks down the top passions and common values shared by Gen Z and Millennial cannabis consumers in 2020.

Why It Matters

“The Gen Z and Millennial cannabis consumer segment is rapidly growing and currently makes up 38% of the marketplace in fully legal states, but they are often tough-to-reach by traditional means,” Headquarters CEO Daniel Abrahami told Benzinga. “Our goal is to give brands a competitive advantage by providing specialized data. In today’s marketplace, these insights are a key for cannabis entrepreneurs to build authentic and community-driven initiatives.”

According to Business Insider, the Gen Z’s spending power stood at $143 billion in January of 2020; Millennials, for their part, spend roughly $600 billion a year.

For recreational cannabis consumers in these age groups, hip-hop and R&B is 24 times more important than the average Internet user.

As ranked by the relevance these consumers give to certain artists — on a 1 to 100 scale — the following were the scores for the top performers:

Other noteworthy names that got high scores included EDM producers Marshmello (63) and Alison Wonderland (79); gamer Nijna (67); entrepreneur Jordan Daley (76); lifestyle brand Supreme (89); fashion brand Just Don (94); and influencers Stoney Sunday (77), Ngaio Bealum (76), and Dope as Yola (74).

How The Data Was Collected

HQ collects data using proprietary software, which analyzes millions of social media and online connections across 56 online categories such as music, podcasts, apparel, athletes, politics, automotive, food, wellness, celebrities, online influencers, TV personalities, entertainment, technologies and gaming.

The report’s “Value Score” identifies which medium and micro-sized brands, publishers, celebrities, influencers, and more, that over-index with specific consumers.

HQ also pinpoints the names that resonate with a targeted consumer group, and uncovers the ones that are “actionable” for most budgets, Abrahami says.

“By partnering with The Statement Group, we can curate a detailed roadmap for brands to create revenue-driving partnerships, paid media campaigns and social media and native content strategies. This results in enhanced engagement and the development of stronger loyalty and emotional connection with consumers,” he added.

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

Georgia On My Mind: The Future Of The MORE Act

Daniel Shortt

-

December 13, 2020

0

Georgia On My Mind: The Future Of The MORE Act

If the Democratic candidates are successful in the two run-off races in Georgia, the MORE Act could have a chance at becoming law in 2021.

Last week, the US House of Representatives voted to pass the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (the MORE Act) which would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This historic vote is the closest that the federal government has come to legalizing marijuana since 1937, when the passage of the Marihuana Tax Stamp Act effectively outlawed cannabis nationwide. This is a big moment in the marijuana reform movement, and it is a promising step forward.

However, in order to become law, the MORE Act must also pass the Senate before going to the President for signature. It is still unlikely that the MORE Act makes it past Mitch McConnell and the Republican-controlled Senate. But, if the Democratic candidates are successful in the two run-off races in Georgia, the MORE Act could have a chance at becoming law in 2021.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been open in his opposition to marijuana. The Republican from Kentucky was instrumental in including hemp provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill but his support evaporates when it comes to THC-rich marijuana. Here is how reporter Natalie Fertig characterized McConnell’s position in an article on marijuana legalization for Rolling Stone back in July 2019:

Even if a cannabis bill passes a Senate committee[,] that doesn’t necessarily mean it will make it to a vote. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell holds the keys to the Senate chamber, and he only brings bills to the floor that he personally wants passed. Though he worked hard last year to legalize hemp –– Kentucky has a long history of farming industrial hemp, and McConnell was looking for a way to help the state’s economy — he’s said he will not consider descheduling cannabis. (McConnell’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story.)

So long as the Republicans control the Senate, marijuana legalization appears untenable through the legislative process because Mitch McConnell is unlikely to allow a vote in the Senate. This is true even though fellow Kentucky Republican, Sen. Rand Paul is a strong supporter of legalization. McConnell’s simply not willing to allow a vote to remove marijuana from the CSA at this time.

Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, who would likely replace McConnell as Senate Majority Leader if the Democrats control the Senate, is in favor of legalization and has gone so far as to say that marijuana legalization will be a priority if the Democrats retake the Senate, as reported by Marijuana Moment. This is why the future of the MORE Act is so closely intertwined with the two Senate races in Georgia.

Another Path To Nationwide Marijuana Legalization Is Still In The Cards — Jon Ossoff / Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

In Georgia, a candidate cannot advance through a primary or general election without more than 50% of the votes. In the event that no single candidate reaches that threshold, then the two candidates who received the most votes advance to a runoff. That is exactly what happened this year in Georgia in two races, one for a special election to fill the remaining term of Senator Jonny Isakson (R), and one regular Senate race.

The special election pits Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock against Republican Kelly Loeffler while the regular election is between the incumbent, Republican Sen. David Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff. If Democrats win both races than the Senate will be split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats. In the event of a tie in the Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris, who sponsored the MORE Act in the Senate, would cast the deciding vote. I think we know how she would vote.

The National Cannabis Association (NCIA) provides more information on the Georgia races. Democrats have a tough road ahead to win both Senate races in Georgia, but Georgia did go for a Democrat for the first time in decades in 2020. We will continue to monitor the outcome in Georgia and watch for additional developments in Congress.

Daniel Shortt is a corporate and regulatory attorney based in Seattle, Washington who works extensively with entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry. This article originally appeared on Green Light Law Group and has been reposted with permission. You can contact Daniel at info@gl-lg.com or (206) 430-1336.

Does Ellen DeGeneres Smoke Weed?

Maria Loreto

-

December 12, 2020

0

Ellen DeGeneres has had a tough year. Does she smoke weed to help her manage all the drama? Let’s discuss.

Ellen DeGeneres is one of the world’s biggest TV personalities. As the amicable host of her namesake talkshow, DeGeneres’s stature has taken a nose dive this year, plagued by a host of workplace hostility claims, including the exit of three senior producers who left amid dozens of sexual harassment, racism and toxic behavior accusations. While DeGeneres made a public apology, her reputation continues to suffer.

A couple of days ago, DeGeneres announced through Twitter that she’d been diagnosed with COVID-19.

pic.twitter.com/8pKdgCXY1z

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) December 10, 2020

When reached out by a representative from NPR, it was confirmed that production of The Ellen DeGeneres Show was put on hold until January. But anyway, let’s get to why you really came here: does Ellen DeGeneres smoke weed?

DeGeneres has long shown a positive attitude towards the herb, using her platform to comment on it, even selling weed merchandise on 4/20, which doesn’t make her a smoker but rather a smart business person.

US marijuana sales might top $2.3 billion this year. I’m not saying I support it. I’m just saying it’s now available in the Ellen Shop.

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 22, 2014

Happy 420, everybody. pic.twitter.com/wfBFoEeCvT

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) April 20, 2017

RELATED: Does The Weeknd Smoke Weed?

Back in 2017, when the marijuana website Civilized dug into her potential pot-smoking preferences (much like we’re doing here), pointing to that 420 merchandise tweet as evidence, she explained on her show: “So their first piece of evidence is that I sold merchandise to marijuana users on 420. That does not make me a smoker, that makes me a smart business-lady. Look, you are never too high to buy Ellen underwear.”

To avoid any confusion, Ellen did state plainly that she does not smoke weed.

Long story short: while someone might sell weed merch, it doesn’t make them weed smokers.

Chances For Federal Marijuana Legalization Live On, According To New Poll

Mike Adams

-

December 12, 2020

0

Chances For Federal Marijuana Legalization Live On, According To New Poll

If this were a horse race, everyone would be on their feet right now, nervous for what could happen in the final quarter-mile.

Political analysts and cannabis advocates are all saying the same thing right now: The bill that the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives just passed to legalize marijuana at the national level (MORE Act) isn’t going to get through the Senate or become law.

The reason is that Republican Mitch McConnell is still in control of the upper chamber. The last time we checked, the self-proclaimed grim reaper of Capitol Hill wasn’t prepared to help the Democrats further their agenda, especially when it comes to marijuana. But McConnell might not get a say after all.

The Democrats still have a chance to win control of the U.S. Senate in Georgia’s upcoming runoff election. Georgia requires candidates to secure 50 percent of the vote to win. None of them achieved that in the November election. So they are duking it out once again for an official winner. All the Democrats have to do is win the two seats up for grabs in the Peach State, giving them 50 votes with Vice President Kamala Harris being the tiebreaker if one should be needed. Honestly, it will be a tight race, but the latest polls show the Democrats are ahead by a nose.

According to the FiveThirtyEight political podcast, Democrat Jon Ossoff is leading Republican Senator David Perdue. A new poll shows that Ossoff is gaining support by the day (presently at 48.3%), while Perdue’s fanfare is declining. As far as the other seat, Democrat Raphael Warnock is ahead of Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler by 1.7 points. Still, Warnock’s rating is on the decline, while Loeffler’s is holding fairly steady. Democrats must find a way to keep the voters on their side if they want a fighting chance at getting into Washington D.C. next year to make some changes.

President-elect Joe Biden is stepping in to help.

Biden will stop in Atlanta on Tuesday to try and drum up more support for Ossoff and Warnock. To say there is a lot at stake for Democrats in these final weeks would be an understatement. Failing to gain control of the Senate will mean at least a few more years of a divided Congress, more Mitch McConnell, and no new reforms getting passed. The United States would basically be put in a state of suspended animation by a Congress unable to reach a compromise — even with a newly-elected president running the show. So Democrats must win over the voters in Georgia over the next few weeks. If they succeed, then they will control both chambers of Congress.

That means McConnell will be run out on a rail. Democrats would then have the authority to appoint a new Senate Majority Leader and set the stage for bigger and better things. Like what, you ask? Well, the MORE Act, for starters. The bill, which was approved by the full House last week and expected to die a miserable death in the Senate, would advance in the upper chamber.

So would the Medical Marijuana Research Act, which would expand research opportunities for scientists wanting to truly explore the therapeutic possibilities of cannabis. It passed a floor vote in the U.S. House just this week. Indeed, the wheels are turning for cannabis reform in the United States. The only thing standing in the way is the outcome of the runoff election.

If this were a horse race, everyone would be on their feet right now, nervous for what could happen in the final quarter-mile. That’s where all of the action happens. So far, the pro-pot horse is winning. But you never know when one is going to come up from behind and cost you everything.

Harry And Meghan Are On Much Better Terms With The Royal Family

Patricia Wallace

-

December 12, 2020

0

Harry And Meghan Are On Much Better Terms With The Royal Family

Sources near the royal family say that Prince Harry now has a much better relationship with the royal family. Here’s why.

Harry and Meghan have had a tough year, one plagued by changes, including two international moves, a miscarriage, and a global pandemic. But sources close to the couple say that they’re optimistic over the future, and that they are on better terms with the royal family.

Vanity Fair reports that Harry’s relationship with William is, according to a family friend, “much better than it was.” The brothers have been in regular contact and the Sussexes have sent Christmas gifts to Cambridge. “I have no doubt they will be video calling each other over Christmas,” said the friend.

For their part, the Sussexes plan on hosting a quiet Christmas celebration with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland. Meghan supervised the menu and will be cooking.

Harry and Meghan were busy throughout the year, even if the pandemic has delayed the launch of their charity, Archewell, and has changed the way in which they prefer to work. “They value being able to connect with people in person,” said the friend. “That’s why they’ve done various bits of volunteering, some of which were public while some have remained private.”

Still, the couple has remained engaged with their individual charities and have made some appearances in several Los Angeles based charities. In the wake of George Floyd’s death, Meghan did a video for her alma mater, Northwestern University, and the couple did a video for Time 100 on the importance of voting, which caused some stress for royals. In this video, Harry revealed that he’d never been able to vote in the past due to his ties to the royal family.

In 2021, the couple has a lot to look forward to, including the launch of their U.S. based charities and a multi-million dollar deal with Netflix, which will be made up of family friendly content that’s informative and entertaining.

ICYMI: Here are the headlines making news this week on The Fresh Toast.

Marijuana has proven to be a pandemic-proof slice of American commerce, but Senate Republicans still refuse to go down the path toward legalization; since 1893, no major study has found any basis for the criminalization of cannabis; and even if you don’t smoke weed, you’ve likely heard about hotboxing. But does this OG way of getting high work?

Let’s dive into these stories and more as we round up the top five headlines on The Fresh Toast this week:

Now That UN Accepts Marijuana, What Excuse Does Congress Have To Uphold Prohibition?

Congress, presidents, and governmental agencies have had more than enough excuses over the years for not wanting to legalize marijuana in the United States. One of the most prominent being that the United Nations drug treaties strictly prohibits it, and going against the grain of worldly laws would be a serious no-no. However, now that the U.N. has backed off its staunch opposition to the cannabis plant, one has to wonder how lawmakers will justify maintaining pot prohibition in the future.

Continue reading >>>

US Airlines Can Now Ban These On Flights

A new rule now allows airlines in the United States to ban a wide range of emotional support animals from riding in the cabin. This follows news of controversy over emotional support animals that includes pigs, turtles, peacocks and more, which have been allowed to accompany owners over the past couple of years and have caused trouble mid-flights.

Continue reading >>>

What Is Hotboxing And Does It Work

Hotboxing is a common activity for marijuana smokers, particularly those who are young or who’ve seen a lot of stoner movies. The term is popular even among non-smokers, understood as smoking in a small and poorly ventilated space, a practice that allows the smoke to build up and permeate all surfaces. Does it work though?

Continue reading >>>

Marijuana Prohibition Is The Greatest Scientific Fraud Of The Last Century

Gizmodo.com a website whose motto is “We come from the future” has an article titled, What Is the Biggest Scientific Fraud of the Past 50 Years? It asked some distinguished scientists what they would nominate for that dubious distinction. 

Robert N. Proctor, Professor of the History of Science and Professor by courtesy of Pulmonary Medicine at Stanford University, named the “Council for Tobacco Research, the cigarette industry’s chief instrument for denying that cigarettes cause cancer… 

“Twenty-seven Nobel laureates took money from Big Tobacco, and every major university was showered with cash…”

Continue reading >>>

How The House Approved MORE Act Would Jack Up The Economy

Why Advocates Say MORE Act Falls Short In Restorative Justice — Photo by MmeEmil/Getty Images

For the first time in history, Congress has voted to legalize marijuana in the United States. Well, kind of.

The House of Representatives approved a piece of legislation (MORE Act) last week to eliminate the cannabis plant from the Controlled Substances Act and work to expunge criminal records and dedicate funds to those communities choking on the bones of the drug war. But the bill is not expected to advance with Senate support. More accurately, it’s probably dead in its tracks.

This inaction is mostly because top-ranking Republicans are still morally opposed to legal weed. They argue that the country needs to focus first on fixing the economy crushed by the novel coronavirus and bring jobs back to millions of Americans still waiting on some kind of relief.

Continue reading >>>

Side Effects Of The COVID-19 Vaccine

Maria Loreto

-

December 11, 2020

0

The COVID-19 vaccine has already been administered to thousands of people. Here are the most common side effects that have been reported so far.

As we edge closer to the global distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, it’s important to discuss the side effects that may appear.

Like all immunizations, the COVID-19 vaccine will likely have mild or moderate side effects, ranging from arm aches to fevers. Medical experts are emphasizing how important it is for people to take the vaccine, with the positives far outweighing the negatives; a mild fever for one night is no one’s idea of fun, but it’s better than COVID-19.

Here's What It Feels Like To Get A COVID-19 Vaccine — Photo by Gustavo Fring via Pexels

In order to control the pandemic, it’s also necessary for the majority of the population to get the shot. “That is really critical for the general population — keeping people healthy so that they can go back to work, go back to school and so we can really reopen society in a way that we would like to,” infections disease epidemiologist Yvonne Maldonado told the Huffington Post.

The COVID-19 vaccine is different than your average flu shot. Pfizer and Moderna, the two companies behind the most promising vaccines, require two dosages of the shot, which will be administered within a short period of time. “You’ll know when you get the vaccine, but that also tells you it’s working and that your body is responding,” FDA Chief Margaret Hamburg told CNBC.

Here are some of the side effects people might experience once they get the vaccine:

Headaches, fever and arm pain

Should Chronic Pain Patients Use Metered Doses For Most Effective Treatment? — Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

About 5 to 15% of participants reported short term side effects that are similar to those experienced with other vaccinations. Subjects experienced some inflammation, which represents the body’s natural immune response to the pathogen. Some people experienced pain at the spot of injection, low grade fever, some headaches, muscle aches and fatigue, with symptoms lasting from 12 to 36 hours.

More of a reaction after second dose

Why Do We Procrastinate Sleep Even When We're Tired? — Photo by rawpixel.com

In both trials for the vaccine (Moderna and Pzifer) subjects experienced a more significant response when the second dosage was introduced. Still, side effects remained mild to moderate.

After the second dosage more people reported a fever, headaches and fatigue, including those who hadn’t experienced a reaction the first time. In the most severe cases, subjects reported fever and bad headaches, which could leave them in bed for a full day. These symptoms can be treated with regular pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil or Aleve.

Google Will Now Let Users Edit Microsoft Office Files Right From Their Gmail Inbox

Benzinga Staff Writer

-

December 11, 2020

0

Google Will Now Let Users Edit Microsoft Office Files Right From Their Gmail Inbox

The company also announced the launch of a new macro conversion add-on tool that would make it easier for users to transition from Excel to Sheets.

By Shivdeep Dhaliwal

Alphabet Inc GOOGL 0.41% GOOG 0.44% subsidiary Google said Friday it will allow users of its Gmail service to edit Microsoft Corporation’s MSFT 0.21% Office suite attachments directly.

What Happened: The Sundar Pichai-led company said in a statement that users would be able to edit Office documents with a single click from their Gmail while preserving the original format.

The new workflow would allow users to respond to an email thread and include the updated file from Docs — thus saving them the time that would have been spent downloading the file or locating the relevant email to reattach it to.

Google also announced the launch of a new macro conversion add-on tool that would make it easier for users to transition from Excel to Sheets.

The Mountain View, California-based company said it was adding an improved document orientation and image support to Docs in order for mixed-orientation files to be created.

Next year, the company plans to add support for inserting images behind text and watermarks.

5 Google Search Hacks That Will Make You Ruler Of The World — Photo by 377053 via Pixabay

Why It Matters: The latest rejig will lead to the need for “fewer tools that do more,” according to Google.

This summer, Google revamped its email service for business users and integrated tools such as video, chat, email, files, and tasks.

Gmail was reported to have 1.5 billion users at the time and GSuite — now rebranded as Google Workspace — has 6 million business customers. In terms of productivity software, Microsoft Office was the leader, as per CNBC.

Price Action: Alphabet Class A shares closed nearly 0.6% lower at $1,767.65 on Thursday, the company’s Class C shares closed almost 0.5% lower at $1,775.33. On the same day, Microsoft shares closed 0.6% lower at $210.52.

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

Is The NBA Close To Ending Its Ban On Marijuana?

News
Sports

Mike Adams

-

December 11, 2020

0

Is The NBA Close To Ending Its Ban On Marijuana?

The NBA will suspend random testing for marijuana for the 2020-21 season and focus its attention on performance-enhancing products and drugs of abuse.

Marijuana has been stuck on the top of the NBA’s banned substances list for a long time, but some recent changes in policy could indicate that it might not be for long. Now that more than half the nation has legalized marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes, officials overseeing professional basketball’s inner workings are starting to lose interest in players who smoke weed.

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) recently announced that it is discontinuing random drug screens for marijuana in the 2020-21 season. “Due to the unusual circumstances in conjunction with the pandemic, we have agreed with the NBPA to suspend random testing for marijuana for the 2020-21 season and focus our random testing program on performance-enhancing products and drugs of abuse,” NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement.

Although the decision to end marijuana testing is just an extension of the drug testing hiatus put into place at the beginning of the pandemic, the fact that the NBA isn’t in any hurry to start it up again is positive news. In March, just as the season was being forced to shut down because of COVID-19, the NBA pulled the plug on recreational drug testing until it could resume. The season has already come and gone. The Lakers won the championship, and players still aren’t being questioned about their pot use. But, given the NBA’s stance on cannabis, they probably should be.

In July, a feature story in The Athletic revealed that NBA players were going buck wild with bud inside the Orlando bubble. Many players tried to figure out how long a pound of pot would last them while waiting to see if their team would face elimination.

Most players were locked down for at least 40 days during playoff season, while others were there for more than 50. Players with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat were inside the basketball bubble for 82 days. So, just how much marijuana was on Disney World’s property during the playoffs? “You’re asking about Fight Club,” one agent told the news source. “There’s no testing for a reason.”

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

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said that sometimes he feels uncool continuing to test players for marijuana. He admits the league is looking to change the drug policy eventually. But he doesn’t want to take any bold steps that might send the wrong message to the fans. Especially the young ones.

RELATED: Is The NBA Pro-Marijuana Now?

“When we change our policy, we have to be really careful because we’re clearly sending a message to young people,” Silver said in June. “Just like with alcohol, you have to teach young people how to use a substance appropriately and responsibly, so it doesn’t overwhelm your life.”

While the NBA doesn’t have any interest in randomly testing for marijuana during the 2020-21 season, it still reserves the right to test players and coaching staff if they have “cause” to do so. This applies to past offenders and any other situation where blatant marijuana use is suspected. But other than that, they aren’t going to worry about who is smoking pot for a while.

Of course, NBA officials haven’t come out and said that they are temporarily halting drug testing as a baby step toward ending prohibition on the substance altogether. It claims the move is more of an effort to limit any unnecessary contact with players while the pandemic continues to threaten everyone’s safety.

The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement outlines the ban on marijuana. It’s set to run through the 2023-24 season.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

We Need To Educate Children And Adults About ‘Drug Education’

Over 22 million marijuana arrests later, the political consequences of Reefer Madness are still being hidden from the American people.

Millennial Cannabis Consumers Are Influenced By..

Gen Z and Millennial cannabis consumers currently make up 38% of the marketplace in fully legal states, but they are often tough-to-reach by traditional means.

Why It Matters

How The Data Was Collected

Georgia On My Mind: The Future Of The MORE Act

If the Democratic candidates are successful in the two run-off races in Georgia, the MORE Act could have a chance at becoming law in 2021.

Does Ellen DeGeneres Smoke Weed?

Ellen DeGeneres has had a tough year. Does she smoke weed to help her manage all the drama? Let’s discuss.

Chances For Federal Marijuana Legalization Live On, According To New Poll

If this were a horse race, everyone would be on their feet right now, nervous for what could happen in the final quarter-mile.

Harry And Meghan Are On Much Better Terms With The Royal Family

Sources near the royal family say that Prince Harry now has a much better relationship with the royal family. Here’s why.

Top 5 Fresh Toast Stories Of The Week: Dec. 11, 2020

ICYMI: Here are the headlines making news this week on The Fresh Toast.

Now That UN Accepts Marijuana, What Excuse Does Congress Have To Uphold Prohibition?

US Airlines Can Now Ban These On Flights

What Is Hotboxing And Does It Work

Marijuana Prohibition Is The Greatest Scientific Fraud Of The Last Century

How The House Approved MORE Act Would Jack Up The Economy

Side Effects Of The COVID-19 Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine has already been administered to thousands of people. Here are the most common side effects that have been reported so far.

Headaches, fever and arm pain

More of a reaction after second dose

Google Will Now Let Users Edit Microsoft Office Files Right From Their Gmail Inbox

The company also announced the launch of a new macro conversion add-on tool that would make it easier for users to transition from Excel to Sheets.

Is The NBA Close To Ending Its Ban On Marijuana?

The NBA will suspend random testing for marijuana for the 2020-21 season and focus its attention on performance-enhancing products and drugs of abuse.

Don't Miss Your Weekly Dose of The Fresh Toast.