How To Make Joints Burn Slower

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November 28, 2020

Properly rolled joints burn slower and can make your weed last longer. Here are some tips that can help.

When it comes to making your weed last and making your highs more enjoyable, proper joint rolling is very important. A good looking joint will likely be packed properly, ensuring no weed goes to waste and there’s an even burn throughout. One of the most difficult factors to control is how the joints burn, something that can save you some weed and help maximize it.

Rolling your joint slowly and properly will help make it burn more evenly, but the use of other products, like honey or hash oil, will make your joints more special and long lasting. Here are a few tips that can help you roll joints that burn slower:

Use the right weed

How to Choose the Best Cannabis Strain — Photo by Add Weed via Unsplash

Marijuana works best when properly stored, no matter how it’s going to be used. While most people keep it in the baggie in which they bought it in, glass containers make for the best weed storage option, especially if they’re air tight.

Place this container somewhere where there’s no direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. Another factor that can contribute to how slow your joints burn is for the weed to be properly ground; for example, large pieces of weed are more difficult to burn evenly and can taste poorly. Grind your cannabis properly before rolling it, ensuring that all pieces are similar in shape. The weed should be finely ground yet it shouldn’t be a powder. Cannabis Pro-Tips: 8 Ways To Properly Store Marijuana For Freshness.

Use the right rolling papers

Study Says Medical Marijuana Laws Improve Health And Reduce Alcohol Use — Photo by FangXiaNuo/Getty Images

The thinner the rolling paper, the slower it’ll burn. Purchase thin or ultra thin paper, preferably made out of hemp. These papers tend to burn slower and result in a more pleasant and healthy overall experience. Here are 5 Rolling Papers To Fit Every Type Of Marijuana Consumption.

Honey or hash oil

What You Need To Know About CBD Honey — Photo by Arwin Neil Baichoo via Unsplash

If you have hash oil on hand, adding it evenly along the inside of the joint will help your joint burn evenly and it’ll also give you a stronger high. Since the oil is thick, it’ll slow down the burn rate of your joint. The oil will also make you much higher, so it’s likely that you won’t smoke as much.

If you want to add something to your joint that doesn’t change your high, you can also coat the outer part of the joint in honey. The honey serves as a sticking agent that ensures your joint won’t unwrap as you smoke it while also slowing down the burn. It also tastes great.

Make sure your joint is packed tightly

Smuggling Weed In From A Legal State? Don't Get Caught By Doing This — Photo by Tunatura/Getty Images

While your joint should never feel and look rigid, it should be packed tightly, since less airflow results in a slower and more even burn. In order for your joint to be tight, taking your time prepping it and packing it. When the cannabis is sprinkled in your joint, rub the two sides of the rolling paper back and forth several times. This will make it more likely for your joint to retain the shape it’s meant to have and that there’s the proper amount of air flow.

How Marijuana Can Actually Make You An Even Better Parent

Cannabis

Mike Adams

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November 28, 2020

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How Marijuana Can Actually Make You An Even Better Parent

Some parents say marijuana prevents them from losing their cool with their children, while others say marijuana is the ultimate mother’s little helper.

It was once believed that parents who smoked marijuana were unfit to raise their children. But now that the herb has been legalized all over the country for medicinal and recreational purposes, the narrative is changing.

Many advocates argue that pot consumption in front of children is no different than kicking back a few cocktails, while others continue to apply the age-old stereotype to this debate. Somewhere in the middle of the issue is a progressive group of moms and dads who believe marijuana actually makes them better parents. But does it?

Although the majority of Americans is nowhere near ready to embrace the concept of parents using marijuana in front of their kids, it stands to reason that this is happening more frequently these days, now that cannabis is treated like alcohol in a growing number of states.

What’s interesting is marijuana legalization in parts of the United States is making people living in outlaw states more relaxed about weed. But marijuana is still causing trouble for families.

In some cases, parents who are transparent with their pro-marijuana position can prevent kids from getting into certain schools. This is happening in legal states. In areas of prohibition, parents are even at risk for legal troubles, including inquiries by Child Protective Services.

Use Drugs — Photo by ambermb via Pixabay

Still, some parents say marijuana is the ultimate mother’s little helper.

“I was on prescription medications for years after my kids were born to just help me sleep, and my doctor wanted to prescribe additional medications to help my anxiety,” one mother told Colorado Pot Guide.

“I researched tons of alternatives and finally landed on cannabis. I have found that an edible or two in the evening helps my brain chill, my body relax, and even relieves my aches from being active all day. I sleep better and it has helped me to be a calmer mom to my boys.”

Some parents say marijuana prevents them from losing their cool with their children.

Another mother, Nicci, told CPG, “When I start getting frustrated or overwhelmed I smoke pot as a reset button. When I get upset and snappy, we both need a break. She does her thing while I step away and smoke.” This parental timeout allows her to be a “more present parent,” she added.

Professional moms and dads are also using marijuana in a manner similar to the after-business-hours cocktail. Instead of knocking back a glass of wine or two, many are now smoking pot after work to loosen up before dealing with everything from their kid’s practice schedules to homework.

More often these days, parental pot consumption is not being done behind closed doors. This may be difficult for some folks to swallow. But pro-pot parents believe it makes them healthier role models.

“I have no regret coming out of the weed closet to my kids and family,” one father, Derrick, told CPG. “Yeah, I consume near my kids at times. Near, not next to. I love my kids and just want to continue to be as open and transparent with my boys. I’m calmer and more engaged when I’ve consumed. Do I need to be lit all the time, maybe not. Does it help? Hell yeah it does! As long as it doesn’t take away from necessary time with the kiddos, I say, light it up. The kids get a happier parent!”

Marijuana can help handle the stress of parenting. But be sure to familiarize yourself with the local laws before becoming too open about it.

Chrissy Teigen Defends Meghan Markle

Patricia Wallace

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November 27, 2020

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Chrissy Teigen has been a Twitter ally for Meghan Markle, who recently shared she experienced a miscarriage back in July.

Meghan Markle publicly shared that she had a miscarriage in a New York Times op-ed on Wednesday and not everyone is extending their heartfelt sympathy.

You may remember that Chrissy Teigen revealed her own miscarriage on Instagram in September, which many shamed her for. How dare a celebrity share something so personal? So when a Twitter user came after Markle for the same reason, Teigen jumped in.

“Award for today’s absolute piece of s–t goes to… Congratulations, piece of s–t.”

Teigen deleted the tweet, writing, “Sorry forgot I’m trying to be nicer lol.” She went on to explain why she’s not on social media as much these days:

“I’m not tweeting much because I’m honestly in a bit of a grief depression hole,” Teigen wrote Wednesday. “Do not worry as I have so much help around me to get better and I’ll be fixed soon.”

https://twitter.com/chrissyteigen/status/1331730185809403904

Markle explained in her op-ed that she had a reason for sharing her experience, writing that it’s a step toward healing.

“Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by a few. We have learned that when people ask how any of us are doing, and when they really listen to the answer, with an open heart and mind, the load of grief often becomes lighter — for all of us.”

A source exclusively told US Weekly on Wednesday that royal family members are “deeply saddened” by her and Harry’s miscarriage and that Prince Charles has been especially helpful. “[He] regularly checks in on them.”

As USA Today notes, other British royals also have suffered terrible pregnancy losses. In 2001, the queen’s daughter-in-law, Sophie Countess of Wessex, suffered a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy and required hours of surgery to terminate the pregnancy.

5 Things To Know Before Going On A Road Trip

Maria Loreto

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November 26, 2020

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5 Things To Know Before Going On A Road Trip

Road trips are becoming more popular due to COVID-19. Here are 5 things you should account for before signing on.

This holiday season a lot of people are counting on road trips. While flights are easier, rising numbers of COVID-19 cases are keeping people grounded, especially since the holidays are expected to be spent with loved ones who might be at a higher risk if exposed to COVID-19.

While road trips come with some risks, they expose people much less than an airplane would. If passengers aboard a car are safe when stepping out at gas stations and food stops, there’s no reason why they won’t make it someplace else without having exposed anyone in the meantime. Still, there are some factors that should be accounted for prior to making that decision.

Make sure your car is okay

Before hitting the road, it’s important to conduct a thorough inspection of your car. Stopping to repair a flat tire is not ideal when traveling during the holidays and amidst a pandemic. Make sure your car is up to date in oil change, battery check and tire rotation. Depending on where you live, you should also account for snow chains, new tires, or snow brushes.

Pack all of your safety resources

Tech Duh: Cheap Chargers And Cords Will Ruin Your iPhone — Photo by Ed Gregory via Stockpic

Your car should also have jumper cables, windshield wiper fluid and a tire pressure gauge. You can also invest in some flashlights, car phone chargers, face masks, water and some snacks, that way you can minimize the amount of stops you make on your trip, which drain you of time and energy.

Expect weird weather

When driving, you can be exposed to all sorts of weird and stressful weather, like rain or snowstorms. While you should look up the weather ahead of time, sometimes it can’t be accurately predicted. If unexpected weather does appear, don’t rush to your destination and consider making a stop in a parking lot or a rest area.

Follow up on COVID-19 guidelines

stack of white yellow green and blue textiles — Photo by Vera Davidova via Unsplash

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is advising for people to stay at home throughout Thanksgiving and the holidays. Still, depending on their situation, people will make their own plans. If you’re choosing to travel, it’s important to pack face masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizer wipes in order to wipe down gas pumps and other high touch surfaces along the road. When making a pit stop, it’s important to keep 6 feet of distance amongst yourself and others, to wear face masks, and more.

Sleep, sleep, sleep

The main piece of advice anyone can get before a road trip is to be well rested. If you have enough sleep, you’re much more likely to face challenges like traffic and unexpected weather with a better outlook.

What Can Happen If You Give Marijuana To Minors

Mike Adams

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November 26, 2020

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What Can Happen If You Give Marijuana To Minors

It might sound like sharing weed with your teen is a hip move, but it can actually get a person in deep trouble with the law.

Some adults believe it makes them “cool parents” to have an open relationship with their children and smoke marijuana with them from time to time. This sort of thing happens fairly regularly, but we really only hear about it when the hammer gets brought down on those adults who subscribe to this irresponsible policy. Because while it might sound like sharing pot with your teen is a hip move, it’s the kind of behavior that can actually get a person in deep trouble with the law.

A perfect example of the problems that can arise from smoking cannabis with a minor went down in Oregon — a state where weed is legal for adults 21 and older. It was there that a couple was arrested for getting two 13-year-olds high, according to a report from the Ashland Tidings.

The article claims that 38-year-old Lindsey Ann Monda and her 46-year-old boyfriend Jason Michael Dunn were taken into custody after police learned they were allowing Monda’s children to participate in various pot-related activities. A string of text messages sent by Monda to a friend shows that she was “getting blasted” with her kids, “and teaching ‘em how to use a bong.”

Interviews with the minors helped police collect enough evidence to charge both adults with a crime.

So, where did these two go wrong?

why marijuana illegal classification is based on politics not science — Photo by Jamie Grill/Getty Images

Even though marijuana is now legal in a growing number of states, it is still illegal in those places for adults to sell or share marijuana with people under 21 years of age. Anyone caught breaking this law, which is considered “contributing to the delinquency of a minor,” can be slapped with a felony charge. How that all shakes out in a court of law really depends on a variety of factors, including the amount of marijuana involved and if the adult on the chopping block has a criminal history. Either way, a conviction for sharing or selling weed to minors can lead to years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. In California, for example, providing children with cannabis can result in up to 7 years in prison.

If you think this can’t happen to you, you would be sadly mistaken. Getting busted for this offense is relatively easy for those who dare try it. In the case of Monda and Dunn, it appears that text messages bragging to friends about one of the teens being “totally blazed” and how it was “hilarious” to see them so stoned is what ultimately prompted a tip to law enforcement. It seems that not even your friends can be trusted. And even if the claims are false, it is the responsibility of the police to investigate all matters where a minor’s well being could be at risk.

There is also a distinct possibility that the kids will tell on you, as well. Indeed, even if no other adults sell you out, teens are known for having loose lips. It doesn’t matter how many times you utter the phrase, “Hey, don’t tell anybody about this or I’ll get into trouble,” rest assured they will run their mouth to someone. It will then most likely get back to a teacher, a school counselor or someone else who doesn’t find it a bit humorous that you’re getting your kids high. Therefore, engaging in this practice, even if just once, is a dangerous game that could cost you your freedom.

Once again, any report at all suggesting that an adult is sharing weed with kids, and the cops are going to show up at the door asking questions. Let’s hope you can prove the visit is unwarranted. If not, you could be taking a trip downtown, and there’s nothing about the events that are sure to follow that will make you the “cool parent.” That is unless you count cooling off in a jail cell.

Hemp: Marijuana Or Not Marijuana?

David Hodes

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November 26, 2020

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A 2011 study found that “marijuana and hemp are significantly differentiated at a genome-wide level,” further confusing hemp’s legal status.

Since the signing of the 2018 Farm Bill in December, 2018, significant attention has been paid to the differences between hemp and marijuana. Most reasoning comes down to the level of THC as the differentiating factor. But there is so much more going on here.

Hemp and marijuana are, in fact, two different plants in the same species of three different types of marijuana: cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, and cannabis ruderalis.

According to the 2018 Farm Bill (which is still technically not in force yet), hemp is the cannabis sativa type of marijuana that has no psychoactive properties because of an extremely low level of THC. It’s why hemp products are generally legal, depending on various state laws.

But a recent government report concludes that marijuana and hemp are neither genetically identical nor genetically similar. And a 2011 Canadian study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, found that “marijuana and hemp are significantly differentiated at a genome-wide level.”

This new information only serves to further confuse what the government is trying to figure out about hemp’s legal status. If hemp is genetically not marijuana, then does that mean any hemp with any level of THC is not marijuana—and therefore, should not to be included as a Schedule 1 substance?

This new scientific information could have helped in the situation in Idaho on January 19, 2019, where an Oregon trucker was arrested for felony trafficking of marijuana carrying 6,701 pounds of hemp that the Idaho trooper said tested positive for THC with his field testing unit. His drug dog alerted to it as well.

'Hot Plants' Prove Problematic For Hemp Entrepreneurs — Photo by TinaKru via Pixabay

The shipment was confiscated because the state said that hemp is marijuana, and since the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing hemp was not in force yet, the state could confiscate the shipment and arrest the driver for interstate transportation of a controlled substance.

But what about the genetic differences? Could this new scientific information about marijuana and hemp being genetically different become the basis of a more informed argument for the defense of what constitutes marijuana and what constitutes hemp?

But the plot thickens!

The 2018 Farm Bill assigned regulatory developments about growing and transporting hemp to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is currently working on finalizing those rules, which is why the new rules legalizing hemp are not officially in place yet. Creating these rules is not going to be simple.

A draft of the interim final rule for domestic hemp production by the USDA shows what the USDA is up against. It pointed out that plants grown from the same hemp seeds planted in one state could have different THC levels when planted in another state.

That means hemp grown in one state could be marijuana, where hemp grown from the same seeds in another state could still be hemp.

The USDA also has an allowable error margin for THC content in a hemp sample. Hemp has to be lab tested in one of 44 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registered labs to determine its THC content (DEA registration is necessary because tests may determine that the sample is actually marijuana).

The USDA draft states that a lab’s “measurement of uncertainty” is allowed, meaning that a sample of hemp that tests for the allowed .3% THC level in a hemp sample instead comes up as .35% is OK, if the lab measurement of uncertainty is plus or minus .06%. That means that a level of THC of .35 percent is OK because it’s within the high end of a range ending at .41% (.35 + .06%).

So that sample, which is actually marijuana because it’s over .3% THC, is okayed as hemp according to the USDA’s lab guidance.

Got that? Hold on.

Yet another hemp-not-marijuana-but-seems-like-marijuana wrinkle has surfaced, also from genetic research that discovered that hemp plants may, in fact, create higher THC content through their own genetics, and not in environmental conditions (drought, flooding, excessive, nutrients, and other conditions) as originally thought. Hemp can turn itself into marijuana.

So many questions.. too few answers. More research is needed. Bottom line: This is one complicated, amazing plant—and a snickering Mother Nature doesn’t give up her secrets easily.

Kamala Harris’s Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Goes Viral On TikTok

Maria Loreto

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November 25, 2020

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Kamala Harris’s Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Goes Viral On TikTok

A TikTok video illustrating the Vice President-elect’s Thanksgiving turkey recipe has been making the rounds over the past couple of days.

Modern day politicians are one of the topics that social media apps love the most, adding a bit of humanizing to them, especially during the holiday season. An example is Kamala Harris’s Thanksgiving turkey recipe goes viral on TikTok.

The Vice President-elect has shared her love of cooking with followers, discussing her childhood experiences with cooking, as well as her favorite cookbooks and authors. “As a child, I remember hearing the pots and smelling the food, and kind of like someone in a trance, I would walk into the kitchen to see all this incredible stuff happening,” she said in an interview with Glamour.

Who Was Actually Worse On Marijuana- Kamala Harris or Rudy Giuliani? — Photo by Win McNamee/Staff/Getty Images

The trending TikTok video was taken from a 2019 appearance on MSNBC. In it, Harris discusses the differences between wet brine versus dry brine and why white wine is her secret ingredient when it comes to adding flavor and moisture to her Thanksgiving Day turkey.

@feministmamathis brings me life (also the best turkey I’ve ever made) ##kamalaharris ##thanksgiving ##turkey ##madamvicepresident ##recipe ##cooking ##politics ##kamala ♬ original sound – Abbi

The video was shot during a commercial break and is now edited with footage of someone actually cooking the bird according to Harris’s recipe. “Do it like a pot of water, a couple bay leaves, a little sugar, a cup of peppercorns, you could even do a slice of orange, something like that,” she explains.

The video made its first appearance on Twitter before reporter Jonathan Capehart uploaded the footage and hashtagged it #KamalaCooks.

Harris has been vocal about cooking and how it benefits her mental health by giving her a semblance of control over her hectic life. She’s cooked masala dosa with Mindy Kaling and addressed Senator Mark Warner’s gross tuna melt Twitter tutorial gone wrong.

Mark—we need to talk. Call. Please. Your friend KDH.pic.twitter.com/IPGsT6cnjE

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 22, 2020

Weed or COVID Is The Biggest Holiday Travel Worry

Mike Adams

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November 25, 2020

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Weed or COVID Is The Biggest Holiday Travel Worry

There are more than 600,000 marijuana arrests made every year in the United States. So if you’re not careful, the coronavirus might be the least of your worries.

Millions of Americans are still traveling this holiday season, despite the pandemic. Some of the latest data shows that COVID-19 is now responsible for more than 85,000 hospitalizations per day in the United States. Yet, nobody wants to miss turkey day or any other holiday festivity this year, so they are piling into planes, trains, and automobiles to get to their families, even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that this might not be the best idea.

Many of them are under the impression that as long as they wear masks, load up on hand sanitizer and stay six feet away from others, they might escape unscathed. But none of these precautions will save them from going to jail if they happen to get caught with weed.

Wait, what?

Although COVID is the apparent threat in 2020, so is getting busted for marijuana possession. Perhaps now more than ever. Sure, the herb is now legal in some form or fashion in more than half the nation, but that doesn’t mean the population can just transport it from this place to that all willy-nilly like without breaking the law.

And make no mistake about it — even with COVID being the primary concern this year, law enforcement agencies are still on the lookout for toking travelers during the holidays. There are more than 600,000 marijuana arrests made every year in the United States. So if you’re not careful, the coronavirus might be the least of your worries.

When traveling by air this holiday season, it is crucial to have a grip on the marijuana laws before even stepping foot inside the terminal. Although TSA agents have said time and again that they are not actively searching peoples’ luggage for marijuana, they will forward the situation to the local authorities if they find some.

This isn’t a huge deal if a person happens to get caught in LAX; marijuana is entirely legal in California. As long as the traveler is within the possession limit, the most that will happen is the pot will be seized and they might get delayed boarding their flight.

People Are Now Stealing Marijuana From Chicago Airports — Photo by Flickr user Nick Harris

But if the same situation happens in a prohibition state — someplace like Indiana, Kentucky, or Georgia — the outcome will be more severe. Chances are the traveler will be arrested and charged with criminal marijuana possession. And no, they won’t get to eat Thanksgiving dinner before being carted off to jail. From there, they will undoubtedly face a wealth of legal woes that could potentially cost them thousands of dollars in legal fees and fines and perhaps even lead to more jail time.

So be careful out there.

Still, traveling with marijuana by air is safer than doing it on the highways. Police are out in full force during the holiday season, looking for intoxicated drivers and those engaged in the unlawful transport of marijuana. It’s really only a problem for those traveling in and out of prohibition states. If a Denver resident is making the trip to Pueblo with a little herb, the cops cannot give them a hard time during a traffic stop as long as they are sober.

But the same cannot be said if a pot-toting Colorado resident travels into Kansas. First of all, crossing state lines in possession of marijuana is considered federal drug trafficking – an offense that comes with prison time and steep, steep fines. Secondly, police in prohibition states still aren’t keen on weed.

In fact, officers will often find ways to search a person’s vehicle during a routine traffic stop just to see if there’s any marijuana or other illegal drugs. The legality of some of these tactics are questionable at best, especially in rural towns, but they still happen. The best advice for highway travelers this holiday season is to leave the weed at home. Maybe someone at your final destination can spot you. You just don’t want to give the cops any chance of ruining family time.

But if you must take weed along, travel with edibles (they don’t smell), keep your car clean, don’t smoke weed on the road, and obey the traffic codes. Never break more than one law at a time.

How To Stay Sober Through The Holidays

Maria Loreto

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November 25, 2020

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The holidays are an emotional time of year. Here’s what you need to do if you want to stay sober.

For a variety of reasons, we’re all looking forward to the end of the year. With a pandemic, elections and an overall sense of dread that permeates most of our days, you can’t blame people for counting down the days until 2020 is behind us. It has also been a year where we’ve consumed more drugs and alcohol than expected, with lockdown and quarantine giving people the excuse to drink every day the minute the sun goes down. While some people are able to make things work with these new measures in place, medical experts are concerned by the repercussions of these kind of behaviors.

Trying to get through the holidays without the help of any kind of substance is a tall order under normal circumstances. This year, it almost sounds unrealistic. Still, if alcohol or other substances are causing you discomfort, check out some tips that can help you stay sober through the holidays:

Spot your triggers

Why Cannabis-Infused Drinks Are Hit Or Miss — Photo by Robert Mathews via Unsplash

Most of us don’t think about what makes us want to have a drink. Take this opportunity as a chance to be more introspective, thinking about your relationship with a substance and writing down whenever you feel the urge to have a drink and what prompted that reaction. After a couple of days of sticking to this routine, you’ll spot some trends and patterns that can help you steer clear of those situations, making it easier to stay sober. This is also a helpful practice when using alcohol or substances to numb emotions, which should be cause for concern.

Stick to a routine during the big days

This Is How Our Bodies Will Change After Spending Months Indoors — Photo by Vlada Karpovich via Pexels

Days of celebration, like Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve, are usually associated with a lot of drinking, making it more difficult than other days to stay sober. Make a plan for these days and try to stick to it, waking up at a certain time, working out and planning whatever it is you want to do to celebrate. If you don’t feel like being that productive, it’s okay; plan out your movie marathon, your phone calls with friends or your video game binge. Keep yourself busy and the odds of drinking or overthinking will be dramatically reduced.

Stay in touch with your loved ones

5 Things You Can Do To Make The Most Of Your Therapy Sessions — Photo by cottonbro via Pexels

No matter what your plans are over the holidays, whether you’re riding solo, staying with family or hosting a socially distanced dinner, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and sad. It’s been a rough year and the holidays usually exacerbate these kind of emotions. Reach out to your loved ones and let them know your situation; odds are, they’re probably coping with something similar.

Mexico’s Cannabis Legalization Bill Will Boost Business

Benzinga Staff Writer

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November 25, 2020

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Mexico’s Cannabis Legalization Bill Will Boost Business

If passed, the measure will improve Mexico’s living conditions while reducing drug trafficking crime. However, cannabis advocates and legal experts have several concerns.

By Andrew Ward

Mexican Senators approved a historic adult use cannabis legalization bill on Nov. 19, with an 82 to 18 vote.

This doesn’t legalize adult use just yet, but Mexico appears well on its way to becoming the third nation to do so and potentially the largest legal market in the world. Mexico’s cannabis legalization bill will boost business, but there are concerns.

The bill’s passage comes after five similar Supreme Court rulings, which deemed prohibition unconstitutional. Two extended deadlines delayed the process, but everything appears to be on track as the bill heads to Congress’ lower house for a final review and Senate vote.

If passed before Mexico’s legislative session ends in December, the measure will improve Mexico’s living conditions while reducing drug trafficking crime.

‘Strict Rules’

Luis Armendáriz, Mexican Attorney and Hoban Law’s Head of Global Practice Group, says the bill is “a huge step for the birth of the legal industry”, which should lead to jobs and investments.

But the proposed regulations continue to impose restrictions and penalties on those who don’t comply with what he considers strict rules.

“Advocates for social justice and public health also have legitimate concerns, but we can all agree that it is a law that will be subject to improvement in the coming years,” Armendáriz says.

Still, he expects the bill to set the foundation for cannabis and hemp legalization.

At the same time, the country’s Secretary of Health is close to publishing the long-awaited medical market laws.

“Hopefully the momentum can push these rules coming out as well,” Armendáriz says.

Mexico's Cannabis Legalization Bill Will Boost Business, But There Are Concerns — Photo by Jezael Melgoza via Unsplash

‘That’s Concerning For Us’

Zara Snapp, co-founder of the research and advocacy group Instituto RIA, points out that Mexico is not effectively decriminalizing the plant before going into a regulatory scheme.

“It continues to have a punitive focus with simple possession continuing to be a crime,” Snapp says. A US$500 fine for possessing over 28 grams is “a huge quantity for any [citizen].”

A police force known for extortion and that penalizes for simple possession-type fines cuts into the bill’s significance, she says.

Also, last minute removals of vertical integration parameters could be a sign of courting large businesses over microliceses.

“That’s concerning for us just because of the entrance of big businesses into the market, which is going to happen anyway,” she said.

Snapp says that much of the rule making will be left up to whoever heads up the institution on cannabis once legalized. Her group will be monitoring the appointment closely, she adds.

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

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

How To Make Joints Burn Slower

Properly rolled joints burn slower and can make your weed last longer. Here are some tips that can help.

Use the right weed

Use the right rolling papers

Honey or hash oil

Make sure your joint is packed tightly

How Marijuana Can Actually Make You An Even Better Parent

Some parents say marijuana prevents them from losing their cool with their children, while others say marijuana is the ultimate mother’s little helper.

Chrissy Teigen Defends Meghan Markle

Chrissy Teigen has been a Twitter ally for Meghan Markle, who recently shared she experienced a miscarriage back in July.

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Road trips are becoming more popular due to COVID-19. Here are 5 things you should account for before signing on.

Make sure your car is okay

Pack all of your safety resources

Expect weird weather

Follow up on COVID-19 guidelines

Sleep, sleep, sleep

What Can Happen If You Give Marijuana To Minors

It might sound like sharing weed with your teen is a hip move, but it can actually get a person in deep trouble with the law.

Hemp: Marijuana Or Not Marijuana?

A 2011 study found that “marijuana and hemp are significantly differentiated at a genome-wide level,” further confusing hemp’s legal status.

Kamala Harris’s Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Goes Viral On TikTok

A TikTok video illustrating the Vice President-elect’s Thanksgiving turkey recipe has been making the rounds over the past couple of days.

Weed or COVID Is The Biggest Holiday Travel Worry

There are more than 600,000 marijuana arrests made every year in the United States. So if you’re not careful, the coronavirus might be the least of your worries.

How To Stay Sober Through The Holidays

The holidays are an emotional time of year. Here’s what you need to do if you want to stay sober.

Spot your triggers

Stick to a routine during the big days

Stay in touch with your loved ones

Mexico’s Cannabis Legalization Bill Will Boost Business

If passed, the measure will improve Mexico’s living conditions while reducing drug trafficking crime. However, cannabis advocates and legal experts have several concerns.

‘Strict Rules’

‘That’s Concerning For Us’

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