COVID-19 tests are improving in volume and accuracy, increasing the ways in which people can stay safe. But does this mean you should get them more often?
Across the U.S., COVID-19 tests are becoming more and more common. People take them if they think they’ve been exposed to COVID, out of curiosity, or if they want some peace of mind before meeting up with friends and family. Now that we’re going through a third wave of the pandemic, how often should you be getting tested? And would continual testing strain your city’s health system?
While testing capabilities have vastly improved throughout the year, it’s still too early for there to be unlimited and completely accurate testing methods. It’s unknown if hospitals and emergency centers would be able to cope with large amounts of testing while also dealing with large amounts of COVID-19 patients.
When discussing people whose health is compromised or who are in close contact with someone who is severely ill, regular testing could be another tool in their belts, another method used to stay safe. Despite this, experts warn that testing doesn’t replace mask wearing and proper social distancing guidelines.
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Dr. Suzanne Pham, medical director of the COVID-19 response team at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, explains to Health how timing plays a role in testing and why other measures are needed in order to stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus.
“Timing is an important factor when it comes to testing accuracy. If you were exposed an hour prior to getting tested, well, it’s highly unlikely that test is going to pick it up. It may take three, four, or five days for you to test positive.”
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People who get a test when their viral load is too low and before they develop symptoms have then a couple of days of thinking that they’re safe when they’re not, spreading the virus unintentionally.
Testing is improving all over the country, with every new batch of tests increasing in speed and accuracy. Still, we’re not at the point where we can rely solely on them to stay safe. Other measures such as mask wearing, hand washing and social distancing, although annoying and disruptive of the flow of everyday life, remain the most accurate way of staying safe.
Massages are great anxiety killers, but what is your risk level of contracting COVID-19 during a session?
Many relaxing activities have been put on indefinite hold due to the pandemic. While nail and hair salons have been slowly crawling out of the woods, enforcing protective screens and measuring the temperature of clients, massage parlors haven’t been labeled as that high of a priority.
As is the case with most things COVID, it’s all up to your situation and personal circumstances. While a massage is not something you need, it is nice when you’re feeling stressed out. And, have you ever been more stressed out? It’s doubtful.
Here’s what you should know about getting a massage while there’s the coronavirus to consider:
When going out and exposing yourself, it’s important to evaluate your situation and level of risk. Keep in mind your age and whether you’re coping with pre-existing conditions. The person who is at lowest risk of the virus are those who are young and healthy. You should be aware of these risks before you choose to visit one of these establishments.
Be sure to look into different massage places and how they’re responding to COVID; how often they’re sanitizing, changing their sheets, whether they’re staggering costumers and if their employees are wearing masks. Give them a call ahead of time so you can plan it out and make an educated decision.
Masks should be worn at all times
Once you’ve made your choice, it’s important to wear your mask throughout the massage and to ensure that whomever is doing your massage is wearing a mask also. Even if you’re facing down, your mask relatively controls your respiratory droplets, keeping the area and the person you’re with safe.
Not all spas are equal, which is why you should be careful and do your research ahead of time. Although bigger spas might be more fancy, they’re more likely to have more clients. The less people there are around, the better, with the establishment’s ventilation also playing an important part in keeping the air fresh and virus free.
You can also ask to see if you can schedule a masseuse to make a house call. While you’re still exposing yourself to a stranger, the variables will be under your control; make sure to get your massage somewhere near an open window, with good airflow, or, if you can, somewhere outdoors.
Some officials believe decriminalization only makes the drug problem worse, and that without harsh penalties, more people will use drugs recreationally and eventually become full blown addicts.
There is a lot of buzz right now on drug decriminalization. Not only did Oregon recently become the first state to decriminalize the possession of all illegal substances, but President-elect Joe Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris have made it their mission to do this at the national level with marijuana. What is the difference between marijuana decriminalization and legalization.
Some Americans believe this means the new administration plans to legalize the leaf in a manner similar to alcohol. Only they would be dead wrong. There are some subtle differences between decriminalization and legalization. What are they? The devil is in the details.
When Oregon voters approved a measure to decriminalize the possession of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other hard drugs, they weren’t doing it so that people could get their hands on this stuff easier. It was a stab at decades of failed drug war policies, dictating that people caught holding this stuff should rot in jail. However, the new decriminalization law strips away these old school law enforcement practices, making it so that minor drug offenders (those caught in possession of small amounts of these substances) are simply issued a fine and entered into a drug recovery program rather than being thrown to the wolves of criminal justice.
However, there is a preconceived notion about what Oregon is preparing to do. Some believe the state is about to launch a fully legal drug market, making every dangerous substance is more accessible to addicts and first-time users. But that’s not what is happening. Not even close. There’s not going to be a legal system in place where a person can just walk into their local Heroin Store and buy whatever he or she wants. The new law simply prevents drug users from going to jail. Anyone busted for dealing drugs of any kind will still suffer the same prosecutorial wrath.
That’s decriminalization.
When a drug is legalized, like marijuana has been done in a slew of states, the law typically opens up a taxed and regulated market in which the substance can be manufactured and sold to adults 21 and older. Legalization is the guy who walks into a liquor store and walks out with a six-pack of beer. It’s the lady who enters a cannabis dispensary and buys an ounce of Blue Dream. Sure, there are often possession limits—you can’t just buy a pound of pot—but as long as a person doesn’t exceed the legal limit, there is never any risk of law enforcement hassles. There are no drug rehabilitation classes, no fines, and definitely no jail. Again, as long as the law is obeyed.
What the upcoming Biden administration is looking to do with marijuana is decriminalize it nationwide. Although we have yet to see any details of the plan, it will likely serve to eliminate the criminal penalties for those caught in possession of small amounts of weed and ensure that none of these people are being incarcerated. It will probably take it a step further by allowing those with minor pot convictions to have their criminal records expunged.
The measure would not legalize marijuana at the federal level—there wouldn’t be a retail system in place—nor would it apply to any other drug. That means if a person gets caught with small amounts of heroin, chances are they are going to be arrested and charged with a felony. Unless they are caught in Oregon.
Biden, who is against legalization and used to believe that pot was a gateway drug, now thinks the country should give consumers the benefit of the doubt. Only he wants them to continue answering to their indiscretions to some degree, like attending mandatory drug rehab if they are caught.
“I don’t believe anybody should be going to jail for drug use. They should be going into mandatory rehabilitation,” Biden said earlier this year. “We should be building rehab centers to have these people housed.”
Some officials believe decriminalization only makes the drug problem worse, and that without harsh penalties, more people will use drugs recreationally and eventually become full blown addicts. But that hasn’t been the case in places that have implemented this policy. Portugal decriminalized the possession of all illegal drugs in 2001, and the country still isn’t having the problems it once had. Instead, HIV-infections and drug-related deaths are down, and drug use has not suffered an increase. In fact, Portugal’s drug-use rates are well below the European average.
You need to know more about your cannabis…about what you’re putting into your body, why that matters, and if your dispensary is really doing their due diligence with what they’re selling you.
Dispensaries selling both adult use and medical cannabis have come a long way since 2014, when both product lines were regulated to be sold in cities such as Denver.
Back then, the budtender was a guy off the streets who thought selling marijuana sounded cool and most customers were just looking for strains with the highest THC content. That’s it.
A lot has changed.
Today, you, the cannabis consumer, have so many choices for how and where you shop for cannabis. That includes the classic mom and pop dispensary around the corner, the middling limited new-and-big brand carrier, all the way up to the high-end so-called luxury shops. The 40,000 square foot Planet 13 superstore in Las Vegas, with a selection of 500-plus cannabis products sold to over 1,600 customers a day who spent on average $124 each, can make you forget what you actually came to buy.
But what are you really purchasing from your friendly neighborhood dispensary? Labels are supposed to tell you more than just the THC and CBD content split. And chances are, even as the industry continues cracking down on mislabeling, you are getting more than you bargained for—and it’s not just more or less of THC or CBD than the label says you are getting.
Studies report that cannabis can be contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals, microbial pathogens, and carcinogenic compounds during the cultivation, manufacturing, and packaging processes.
Cannabis is a phytoremediator, which means it naturally draws up heavy metals like chromium and nickel from the soil. Though most of the heavy metals it sucks up stay in the roots, there have been instances of it drawn up into the leaves of the plant.
So now you have to wonder if that cannabis you are buying was grown in soil that may have contained some of these heavy metals. Didn’t think about that? Why would you. The plant is supposed to be your friend. Did your dispensary test for the metals? Likely so. States like California have strict testing rules with a list of allowable levels of pesticides and other contaminants for which the cannabis producer provides a small sample of a dispensary’s cannabis. They also have allowable levels for heavy metals like lead, arsenic and mercury.
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But how much of a product that goes for up to $500 an ounce is your dispensary willing to give up for this required testing? Maybe the tiny bit they submit wasn’t from the batch that had the bud(s) you purchased. And if a little bit of an ounce tests okay, does that also mean the whole ounce is okay? Hmmm.
Other studies have identified several fungal organisms in dispensary-produced cannabis, including Penicillium, used in the production of blue and white cheeses; Aspergillus, a common indoor/outdoor fungus; and the mysterious Fusarium, a common worldwide crop plant infection.
Both Penicillium and Aspergillus have been known to produce aflatoxins, which are deadly molds that move from dead and decaying vegetation onto cannabis plants.
Aspergillus is particularly devastating. It’s found in the soil as naturally occurring organic soil debris. But its spores fly around indoors and outdoors, getting onto the leaves of the growing cannabis plant and eventually, into a consumer’s lungs when smoked. Smoking the cannabis product isn’t hot enough to kill the spores. It can infect the lungs, and quickly spread to the heart, kidneys and brain.
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So why not just test for and remove these dangerous contaminants out of the all of the plant before it’s okay to sell it? It’s sort of expensive and time consuming. Maybe your dispensary does that, maybe it doesn’t. But are there standards to follow?
Well, not just yet. The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) says that the standards for cannabis should include laboratory verification of an identity as cannabis, including any distinctions from hemp depending on the jurisdiction; quantitative composition of cannabinoids; and tests to help ensure minimal exposure to contaminants such as pathogenic microorganisms, toxic elemental contaminants, mycotoxins, and pesticide residues.
Will that be happening soon? Nope. The Feds won’t allow it. Hah—that old Catch 22 again.
In 2016, USP published a Stimuli article analyzing the advisability and feasibility of developing public quality standards for cannabis for medical purposes, and USP’s potential role in developing such standards.
On the basis of public feedback, USP concluded that the development of quality standards for cannabis was “feasible and necessary,” but that inclusion of such standards in a legally recognized official compendium was “not advisable given the current legal status of cannabis at the U.S. federal level.”
Oh, okay. So you and your budtender probably never venture beyond the usual dialogue: “How do you want to feel?” “What terpenes do you like?” “Do you want to be buzzed for hours, or have a slow rise and slow decline in the effect?”
But you need to know more about your cannabis…about what you are putting into your body, why that matters, and if your dispensary is really doing their due diligence on all aspects of the agriculture product they are selling you.
Getting high is one thing. Getting dead is another.
Need a hit first thing in the morning? Here’s how to do it without ruining the rest of your day.
“Wake and bake” is one of those expressions that will never go out of style. While not every cannabis consumer actively practices it, we all know what it means, whether we smoke marijuana or not.
Wake and bake is a practice that a lot of people believe in. Who doesn’t like a toke first thing in the morning? Incorporating marijuana early in your routine can add a shimmer to your day, making its challenges more manageable. In a way, it’s kind of like coffee, but stronger.
Like most things cannabis, wake and bake depends on the user. There’s no science behind it, but cannabis users believe that the plant produces a much stronger buzz when enjoyed in the morning, perhaps because the body isn’t fully awake and your brain can process things more intensely.
While there are people out there who can do just abut everything after smoking weed, whether attending work meetings or having a vigorous workout, for those who are curious and have not yet practiced it, the best way to approach wake and bake would be to do it on a lazy Saturday or Sunday. Here are a few tips on how to wake and bake successfully.
Before getting an early high, be sure to stock your pantry and fridge with all the snacks you want. Make sure your schedule is clear, and prepare a relaxing playlist or choose a movie to watch so you can focus on relaxing when you wake up.
Pace yourself
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If you’ve never smoked in the morning before, pace yourself. While there won’t be much difference when compared to smoking at night, if you smoke too much you might end up sleeping all day, which might not be in your plans. Still, not such a bad way to spend a day off.
One of the great things about smoking marijuana is eating, so order in something you love or prepare a filling breakfast. Try to eat soon after the first hit, that way you keep your body energized and your mood lifted.
Stay hydrated
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Dry eyes and dry mouth are not the most comfortable, especially when you’re experiencing them in the morning. Remember to drink water throughout the day, before and after your session. Aside from being a great habit, drinking water regularly will keep your body hydrated and will also make you feel less groggy once the THC leaves your body.
NBA star and cannabis entrepreneur Al Harrington took some time to discuss what’s next for pot pros post-Election Day.
Last week, marijuana legalization initiatives passed in five states: Arizona, Mississippi, New Jersey, Montana, and South Dakota. Stocks such as Aurora Cannabis and Tilray absolutely surged in the days that followed.
Many cannabis pros also rejoiced, including NBA star and cannabis entrepreneur Al Harrington.
The Viola founder has championed the industry in more ways than one. For Harrington, the nation’s leading Black-owned MSO chief and cannabis licensee holder, raising awareness on social equity and minority representation in the cannabis space is just as important as producing high-quality products.
And mass incarceration of Black and Brown communities for non-violent drug crimes is “one major issue” that continues to “plague” the industry, he told Benzinga.
Social justice and equality is a core component of the Viola mission, as evidenced by the launching of programs like Viola Cares, which advocates for folks disproportionately affected by the war on drugs, and a startup incubator focused on creating 10,000 cannabis jobs.
Harrington took some time to discuss what’s next for pot pros post-Election Day, and the “one major issue” professionals and regulators need to address.
BZ: I recall your appearance on a Benzinga Cannabis Hour episode where you said “California is an example of what not to do.” How do New Jersey and Arizona, for example, avoid those same pitfalls?
A.H.: With the current state of cannabis legislative and regulatory initiatives being so sporadic across the United States, one of the major barriers to entry that Black and other minorities face within the industry, is proper access to capital and overall support that will set individuals and small businesses up for success. Without these typical financing channels, there is an uneven starting line for folks trying to start a business, and disproportionately, minorities bear more of a burden.
Ideally, there needs to be more financial resources and access to capital folded into social equity programs. The complicated bureaucracy has deterred a lot of Californians from obtaining licenses, and this issue has been further compounded by the pandemic, with the formation of the Department of Cannabis Control now on hold. Folks, especially of low-income, put so much at stake just for the chance at obtaining a license and prolonging this approval process really ostracizes the working class who can’t afford to simply “wait it out.” Both New Jersey and Arizona would benefit from a fully staffed, and streamlined regulatory system from the start.
What are the implications of new cannabis legalization: decriminalization, war on drugs reparations, etc.?
With more legalization unfolding in the country, there still remains the one major issue that has been plaguing minority communities over the decades: the mass incarceration of Black and Brown communities for non-violent drug crimes. It’s a necessary conversation to have when we talk about the decriminalization of marijuana because so much of the plant’s history in our country is rooted in its disproportionate criminalization and over-policing.
I’ve seen it in my childhood and it is still happening today. I think the new legislation passed needs to address and challenge this hard truth that’s destroying our communities and families. For me, legalization is a great step but to truly move forward means folding expungement into supporting policy and assuring war on drugs reparations is factored into who these fundraising mechanisms prioritize.
What are the necessary steps to drive cannabis’ expansion into an equitable landscape?
There’s a whole universe of steps to get us to an equitable cannabis landscape. What I continue to fall on are the pillars that are a constant for the Viola family: Education, Incubation, Employment, Community Outreach. All these factors are the basic elements to achieve equity. In my experience within the industry, the leading barriers minorities face in entering the cannabis space is basic access to capital, lack of knowledge and lack of influence in a regulatory environment. When we provide resources to address the root of these obstacles, not only do we give disenfranchised communities the tools to be successful in the space, but open up the floodgates to generational wealth.
Were you surprised by the way the five states voted on Election Night?
I wasn’t surprised. These wins in the cannabis space were to be expected. We’ve seen the success of the business grow over time, but this year has really reinforced how important the marijuana industry is. When we are categorizing cannabis dispensaries as an essential business, and seeing companies in this sector being one of the few that weathers the pandemic well, these are key indicators that really spell out how necessary and viable this industry truly is.
As more U.S. states—even highly conservative ones—welcome recreational cannabis, the pro-statehood party may increasingly warm up to legalization.
Last month, in Puerto Rico: November Surprise for Recreational Cannabis?, we proposed that a victory by opposition candidate Charlie Delgado “might be Puerto Rico’s best shot at recreational cannabis legalization.” As of 2:00 PM local time on November 5, Delgado has not conceded the race. However, the results so far suggest that the island’s next governor will be Pedro Pierluisi, who previously served as Puerto Rico’s congressional delegate. While in Congress, Pierluisi caucused with the Democrats, but his main affiliation is with the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP).
At first glance, a Pierluisi administration does not appear to bode well for cannabis legalization. Back in 2015, Pierluisi expressed “concern” over then-Gov. Alejandro García Padilla’s executive order legalizing medical cannabis. In 2013, he plainly stated he was against cannabis decriminalization.
Of course, five or seven years is a long time in politics, especially when it comes to issues where public opinion is fast-shifting. It is therefore possible Pierluisi’s views on cannabis have evolved since then. However, there is no indication of such a shift in the public record.
At this stage, it is hard to envision any impetus for cannabis reform from the governor’s mansion. The legislature, however, might be a different story. Delgado’s party, the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) appears set to take a greater number of seats than the PNP in both chambers, plus there will be a greater third-party presence than in years past; the PPD may need to work together with these parties to achieve working majorities.
Alexandra Lúgaro, the leader of one of the newly represented parties, is openly in favor of cannabis legalization, as is the leader of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Juan Dalmau (the PIP has been around since 1946, but under Dalmau its gubernatorial vote grew sixfold).
Photo by Fickr user Ricardo’s Photography (Thanks to all the fans!!!)
Overall, forces outside the traditional PNP-PPD duopoly had an unprecedentedly strong showing in this year’s elections. Pierluisi will surely be aware of the fact he was elected with around 33% of the vote, compared to the 42% received by former Gov. Ricardo Rosselló in 2016. Lúgaro took over 14% of the vote and Dalmau was not far behind, while another third-party candidate won a further 7% of the vote, showing a growing desire for nontraditional political alternatives. It is reasonable to expect Pierluisi will look for ways to counter this rising tide. At a minimum, it may give him pause before opposing measures seeking to legalize recreational cannabis.
Even within the PNP there might be changes. As more U.S. states—even highly conservative ones—welcome recreational cannabis, the pro-statehood party may increasingly warm up to legalization.
Fred Rocafort is a former diplomat who joined Harris Bricken after more than a decade of international legal experience, primarily in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. This article originally appeared on the Canna Law Blog and has been reposted with permission.
Disclaimer:The views expressed in this article solely belong to the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Fresh Toast.
There are many other factors involved in influencing levels of violence, but clearly the Drug War does not contribute to social peace, and we need to learn from other countries.
While I am deeply sympathetic with the slogan “No Justice! No Peace!” I’m afraid they have it backwards.
The United States, the self-proclaimed “leader of the Free World” has less than 5% of the world population, but almost 25% of the world’s prison population. We are indeed, Number One! USA! USA! We even have more prisoners than China.
The violence of the Drug War manifests itself in several ways, but the major part of “law enforcement” violence does not involve police shootings that provoke violent demonstrations, but rather the peaceful arrests of over half a million marijuana users who go quietly because they do not have any choice.
These “non-violent” arrests exceed the total number of arrests for all violent crimes combined. They also represent a huge waste of law enforcement resources that could have been much better utilized in dealing with actual violent crimes.
According to Statistica, “There were 101,120 strong-arm robberies in the United States in 2019. A strong-arm robbery involves the perpetrator using a weapon (either real or fake) in combination with a threat of force…”
Of course, those numbers only include those robberies reported to the police, so they do not include robberies committed within the contraband drug markets.
Now consider Portugal’s experience. Twenty years ago, it “decriminalized” possession of all drugs.
“Decriminalization does not mean no penalties, just no incarceration. People caught possessing or using illicit drugs may be penalized by regional panels made up of social workers, medical professionals and drug experts. The panels can refer people to drug treatment programs, hand out fines or impose community service.
“A lot of the benefits over the years from Portugal’s policy shift have come not from decriminalization per se, but in the expansion of substance-use disorder treatment. Such a move might bring the most tangible benefit to the United States.”
“In turn, the country made financial investments in harm reduction and treatment services. Research in the United States shows a dollar spent on treatment saves more than a dollar in crime reduction.
“Opioid overdose deaths fell after Portugal’s policy change. So did new cases of diseases associated with injection drug use, such as hepatitis C and H.I.V. This latter change could also be a result of increases in needle exchange programs in the country. Those programs often meet opposition in the United States, but a cost-effectiveness analysis published in 2014 replicated the research of others in finding that a dollar invested in syringe exchange programs in the United States saves at least six dollars in avoided costs associated with H.I.V. alone.
“Harm reduction through needle exchanges and greater treatment availability are among the reasons for the wide disparity in drug overdose deaths between the United States (with a rising and staggering total of nearly 72,000 last year) and European countries like Portugal (which typically has well below 100 such deaths a year). These reflect a different mind-set on addiction; in Portugal, it’s treated strictly as a disease.”
It is also important to note that Portugal ranks third on the “Global Peace Index” among all countries. The United States ranks 128th, just ahead of Saudi Arabia! Mexico is 140th. The Netherlands, where cannabis has been sold over-the-counter for decades, ranks 17th.
Of course, there are many other factors involved in influencing levels of violence, but clearly the Drug War does not contribute to social peace, and we need to learn from other countries.
So far, election has been brutal, affecting everything from our our motivation to our appetite and sleep. Marijuana can help you win the battle.
November just started but it feels like it’s been going on forever. The super slow results and razor thin margins have likely inspired a thousand panic attacks. For many of us, it’s been very difficult to concentrate and to not succumb to our worst impulses — mainly the constant refreshing of interactive maps and eating all the junk food in sight. Even if it feels like the country is falling apart, it’s important to take care of yourself and your relationships. Here are ways marijuana can help you with election stress.
While the herb can be a great escape mechanism, it can also be a constructive way of grounding yourself in the present and curbing other coping mechanisms that are more harmful.
It can curb your drinking
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2020 has had no mercy. The gloves have been off since March, pummeling us with a barrage of COVID-19 cases and uncertainties. The elections are much of the same, giving us a free pass to drink earlier every day. While drinking does help to make us feel better in the short term, marijuana might play a more effective role in the long term, eliminating hangovers, treating your body more kindly and preventing sad drunken episodes. Next time you feel yourself itching to reach for that bottle of wine or that whisky you’ve been saving for a special occasion (the end of the world counts), reach for a joint instead. Your body will thank you.
If you’re someone who feels anxiety in the pit of your stomach, hindering the desire to eat, marijuana might help; THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana, has been shown to stimulate appetite.
According to a 2015 Yale study, neurons in the brain that are normally involved in suppressing appetite were being tricked by THC. Lead author Tamas Horvath of the study explains it this way:
“It’s like pressing a car’s brakes and accelerating instead. We were surprised to find that the neurons we thought were responsible for shutting down eating, were suddenly being activated and promoting hunger, even when you are full. It fools the brain’s central feeding system.”
Marijuana is an interesting compound; while it makes a lot of people feel good, it also makes a lot of people feel paranoid. That’s not what you want mid-elections. Manage your intake and have a talk with your budtender. As long as you keep an eye on your dosage, you’re likely to avoid bad reactions. Marijuana can help you have engaging conversations with friends, enjoy the outdoors , or help you get lost in a video game, book or movie. When used correctly, it’ll rein in your brain when it feels like going to the doom and gloom place.
The right strain and dosage of marijuana can help you relax — something you might be needing after the very intense week we’ve all had. Consider the method of consumption: If you’re having an edible, be patient and eat it during the earlier part of the day. If you’re smoking, pace yourself through the night and keep yourself hydrated. The idea is to relax, not to knock yourself out. Unless that’s what you want, in which case, go for it.
Perhaps the most common ailment affecting many of us is insomnia. After a week of staying up and watching the news, it might be difficult to get back to your normal sleep schedule. While marijuana can do a lot of the work for you, another thing you can use to your advantage is devising a sleep routine and avoiding screens while in bed. Difficult, but not impossible. Here are 5 more tips to help you fall asleep faster.
There is a lot of talk, but what is being done about cannabis social equity. Let’s get one thing straight — the world needs marijuana. Even as far back as 485 BC (just about 1,500 years ago), Greek historian Herodotus described the pot- smoking rituals of ancient Scythians.
In China, archaeologists uncovered evidence of cannabis use dating back 2,500 years. When considered in this light, cannabis is a human right — and a sacred one at that.
What does all of this have to do with social equity in the cannabis industry here and now?
Today, cannabis is a commercial product grown and sold for profit. After years of prohibition, prosecution, and lurking in the shadows, the cannabis industry is finally stepping out into the light under lawful retail regulations set forward by several states.
However, the means of commercially producing, selling, and profiting from cannabis are, so far, incredibly concentrated in the hands of white business owners. Recent figures put white ownership at a staggering 99% industry-wide.
Cannabis cultivation has an ancient legacy going beyond race, color, or creed. Despite that, in America’s burgeoning multi-billion dollar cannabis economy, your likelihood of involvement, ownership, and success depends on your skin color.
Without social equity in the cannabis industry, people of color will continue being shut out of an exciting economic opportunity that has, in large part, been built with their hands.
What does social equity look like in practice? Who qualifies for social equity, and who doesn’t? These are essential questions — and we’re going to tackle them.
Below, you’ll also find a guide to social equity programs in legal cannabis states like California, Illinois, and Michigan.
Why the cannabis industry needs social equity programs
Throughout the war on drugs era, the heavy-handed enforcement of marijuana prohibition resulted in the lopsided criminalization of people of color.
Despite a near equal propensity between whites and people of color for possessing marijuana, police have historically targeted Black and Latino communities when doling out criminal repercussions.
Since white folks have traditionally received a pass from police, prosecutors, and judges, their records remain largely clean. On the other hand, people of color are disproportionately arrested and charged for the same crimes in extraordinarily high numbers.
When speaking of social equity, what’s at stake isn’t only who does and doesn’t have a clean enough record to participate in the legal cannabis industry. The impacts of racial profiling, disproportionate imprisonment, and institutional racism are also felt economically.
Here in 2020, rich white men are again on the cusp of complete monopolization of yet another lucrative industry. Social equity programs are the best chance for people of color to slow down the cannabis industry’s monopolization — and give a greater diversity of interests a seat at the table.
Are social equity programs working?
State legalization of cannabis is a relatively recent thing. California kicked off the movement back in 1996 by becoming the first medical marijuana state, but in 2012 Colorado went the whole nine yards by legalizing recreational cannabis.
The other eight states, along with Washington DC, all followed suit between 2012 and 2016. So, concluding whether the nascent social equity programs in those states are working or not is a big ask.
In states like California, Michigan, and Illinois, where racial diversity is high, progressive efforts are being made to enforce social equity programs statewide. For instance, Illinois has rolled an expungement initiative into its cannabis business licensing procedures, but it’s simply too soon to measure the material effects the programs are having.
As an aside, the continuation of racially-motivated policing means that even with social equity programs in place, their effects are hampered without police reform.
Challenges for social equity programs
Standing in the way of designing, implementing, and garnering participation in social equity programs are a few major challenges.
Racial assumptions about black business owners. As reporter Amanda Lewis puts it, “black people who sell pot are dangerous criminals and white people who do the same are goofy hippies.”
Racial inequality is already rooted in the cannabis industry. With white ownership of cannabis businesses already high (99%), social equity program recipients face a steep entry barrier.
Social equity programs are unproven. Owing to their very recent implementation and lack of statewide cohesion, social equity program effectiveness is an unknown quantity.
Skepticism on behalf of people of color. After years of systemic racism that continues to this day, participation turnout for social equity programs might be low as Black, Latino, and other marginalized groups harbor deep skepticism toward the state.
Solutions for creating social equity programs
As states continue to legalize cannabis, they’re increasingly faced with fairly implementing legalization. However, lawmakers need to be held accountable for doing so, which requires people of color to make their voices heard.
Outreach to Black and Latino communities. As the two communities most deeply affected by the dark legacy of the war on drugs, reaching out to Black and Latino communities about social equity programs can be a game- changer.
Supporting police reform. Social equity programs alone don’t do enough to end the paradigm of disproportionate policing and racial profiling in Black and Latino neighborhoods. Police reform, criminal record expungement, and social equity programs go hand in hand.
Community support for increased SE programs. Communities need to rally around and signal support for increased resources toward social equity programs. Writing to lawmakers and voting in candidates who support legalization and greater industry access for non-white participants is a must.
Supporting Black businesses. Regardless of whether or not a Black-owned cannabis business relied on social equity to get established, they should be financially supported by their communities.
Photo by Clay Banks via Unsplash
Social equity programs in legal states
California
In 2018, the state of California approved bill SB 1294, otherwise known as the Cannabis Equity Act. While the act was regarded in some corners as a big step
forward toward achieving greater Black cannabis business ownership in the state, it effectively put the onus of responsibility at the city level.
California cities must create local social equity program models, then apply to the state for the funding allocated by SB 1294. In effect, if a California city doesn’t have the resources, knowledge, or desire to pursue a social equity program for its constituents, then it either won’t do it, or will create a poorly designed and ineffective program as Los Angeles recently did.
Oregon
With a low barrier to entry that includes the nation’s lowest cannabis business licensing fees and no business permit issuance limits, Oregon is at the top of the heap when it comes to social equity.
Unlike other states with overly restrictive and competitive social equity programs, Oregon is fostering a small-business friendly climate with a focus on minority ownership. However, despite the progress being made in major cities like Portland, racial profiling in Oregon is still an ongoing and, in some cases, intensifying problem that adds to the social equity problem.
Washington
On October 26th, 2020, Washington’s Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force is set to have a historic meeting with the goal of creating recommendations to the governor. The process of creating recommendations is meant to guide the state’s social equity guidelines going forward pursuant to the passage of bill HB 2870.
Despite the good intentions, the SECTF can only make recommendations but has no power beyond that. Aside from the lack of power, there are early allegations that the SECTF will make regulations favoring a limited number of participants and insiders.
Colorado
Colorado passed SB 224 which, amongst other regulations, imposed a requirement for the state to begin issuing micro business licenses designed to give people in “low-income areas” a shot at getting a cannabis biz license. Apparently, in Colorado, “low-income” means Black, Latino, or indigenous, since
there is scant language in the bill referring to race or the war on drugs, but plenty about people who don’t have or make money.
The bill offers help getting a $10,000 cannabis business license, but the assistance stops there. As several have pointed out since the enactment of SB 224, the business license is the least costly aspect of getting a cannabis business off the ground, so whether the assistance can amount to tangible help is questionable.
Nevada
In 2017, Nevada passed AB 422, an after-thought bill without real goals, targets, or commitments but packaged to resemble something like a social equity program.
However, Nevada’s prohibitively expensive $250K cannabis business license and restrictive issuance mean that today, the state has a grand total of one Black-owned retail business. There are efforts underway to distribute more money to war on drug victims, such as the Cannabis Equity and Inclusion Community, who are trying to change that.
Michigan
Considering the failings of states like Colorado and Nevada, Michigan has started with a robust social equity initiative that looks like a step in the right direction.
Currently, social equity program applicants can get cannabis startup fees reduced by up to 75% when taking factors like community, marijuana arrest record, and caregiver status into account.
However, as is the case elsewhere, receiving a grant to pay for startup fees is only a fraction of the total assistance needed to get a cannabis business off the ground. Some business models requires hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars to launch, but the state doesn’t have provisions for aid beyond business licensing.
Illinois
Today, Illinois is far and away providing the best social equity program framework in the nation. Under current guidelines, applicants are eligible for increased assistance based on a variety of factors such as one’s community
resources, how much the applicant was affected by marijuana policing, and if the applicant will employ a majority of their workforce from war on drugs-affected areas.
All in all, the program is progressive where others are not, and is assisted by the state’s cannabis tax provision which sends 25% of revenue grants designed to improve economic development in hard hit areas. Those who qualify for social equity programs can also submit applications for cannabis-business loans — a major breakthrough for diversifying business ownership.
Other states
Maine, a nearly 95% white state, did not include social equity provisions in its recreational cannabis bill, and still lags far behind the rest of the nation in doing so.
Vermont hasn’t formally begun recreational cannabis sales yet, but it doesn’t look like the incoming bill will significantly address social equity.
Massachusetts may be small, but it’s looking to make a large impact on the country’s social equity programs. The state has set aside cannabis delivery business licenses exclusively for minority businesses, though it still does not have a model in place for great access to capital.
Washington DC has provisions in place for funneling cannabis sales tax back into the communities hardest hit by the war on drugs. The bill also expunges marijuana offenses, allows anyone with a misdemeanor to work in the cannabis industry, and requires 60% of owners, employees, and applicants to be DC residents.
