The world of medicine is staunchly rooted in a form of health conservatism, tried and true in its collective wisdom.
Many health insurers will not cover for consumers to use medical marijuana. Beyond all the bad connotations, marijuana is seen as a Schedule 1 drug — illegal under federal law. Many insurers will not cover activity that is illegal, even if the use of medical marijuana is increasing in leaps and bounds. There are many consumer insurance companies more than a little leery of supporting homeowners or individuals.
Prescribing a Schedule 1 drug, even in a state where medical marijuana has been legalized, would place a physician at risk of having his or her DEA registration revoked. This type of punishment would restrict the physician from prescribing anything, even cough syrup. Most medical professionals will not chance that risk, to their professional reputation.
The world of medicine is staunchly rooted in a form of health conservatism, tried and true in its collective wisdom. The sense of values seeks to minimize risk for patients, as well as medical professionals. There are also very real medical and insurance concerns that the cultivation of marijuana is not regulated, or even watched as closely as the restrictions for prescription drugs, which are released to the market, following FDA government guidelines, and only after years of clinical trials.
The end result is that patients are paying for all aspects of using medical marijuana, and that is something patients should be made aware of if they want to bring marijuana into the treatments they are seeking. There is some hope for the future, as both doctors and patients are increasingly using medical marijuana.
There have been some gaps in the monolithic wall of opposition to marijuana, however. For example, the FDA has approved the use of CBD (cannabidiol) in the treatment of certain forms of epilepsy (the common drug name for this is Epidiolex). There is also ongoing medical research into the use of medical marijuana that might yield future loosening of restrictions. In addition, the FDA has sanctioned the use of Nabilone, a synthetic form of THC, which has been tested and approved.
“The entire industry has to remain united and focused on making cannabis justice part of our platform, right alongside other fundamentals like legalization and access.”
Yet according to Federal Bureau of Investigation data, officers on the state level made roughly 663,000 marijuana-based arrests in 2018, totaling 40% of those arrested for drugs that year.
Possession accounted for 92% of those arrested in 2018.
Efforts are underway to expunge the cannabis records of imprisoned individuals in select states, and proponents of marijuana reform are hoping the MORE Act is passed.
“We still have a very long way to go to remedy the damage done, but we are headed in the right direction and making more progress with each election cycle and legislative session,” says Dr. Chanda Macias, CEO of Ilera Holistic Healthcare and CEO of Women Grow.
“Our industry and advocates must continue to apply pressure to right the wrongs.”
Supporting Returning Citizens
Macias, who also heads up The National Holistic Healing Center, says post-incarceration social services have always been lacking.
“Freed cannabis prisoners have to fight for a slice of a pie in seeking ownership or jobs,” she says.
While the industry and certain states are advancing support for those affected by the drug war, more could be done to reduce recidivism and encourage industry participation.
“It is very encouraging to see so many states reforming and releasing prisoners,” says Liesl Bernard, CEO of the staffing firmCannabizTeam. “There is a long road ahead to reach adequate support for justice impacted individuals reentering the workplace.”
LaTorie Marshall, the founder of National Expungement Week, says that we all could be doing more to help returning citizens.
“We need to stay in communication to make sure that our people know they’re supported,” Marshall says.
“This helps to reduce the high recidivism rate that runs rampant through disenfranchised communities that have been systematically targeted for years.”
Photo by stokpic via Pixabay
N.E.W. provides services to returning citizens that address the thousands of legal and socioeconomic barriers they face, including voting, work and employment rights.
For Bernard and CannabizTeam’s Aim Higher training and re-entry program, the efforts include working with clients to create entry-level and internship roles for additional workplace opportunities.
The N.E.W.’s Marshall commends these efforts, but remains concerned.
“This increase in awareness has yet to fully translate into opportunities for returning citizens, as most of the efforts being made are not specific enough and are too easily co-opted by those outside of these impacted communities,” Marshall says.
Marshall commended Michigan for the recent passage of Clean Slate Michigan, which makes hundreds of thousands of citizens eligible for a clean record.
Returning Citizens ‘Have The Skill Set’
For those whose records have been expunged, finding work can be challenging.
In recent years, states have taken steps to improve pathways to employment with varying degrees of success.
Macias says that retail and cultivation work provides entry-level pathways for returning citizens.
Many states impose restrictions that limit felons from entering the market.
The system is broken and in need of repair for those with records as well as those having their records expunged, she says.
“There are people who want to have careers or ownership in this industry, but they are being discounted,” Macias says. “What’s even more insane is they have the skill set.”
That skill set can translate to ownership. CannaSafe CEO Aaron Riley was once arrested on several felony and misdemeanor charges for selling on his South Carolina college campus.
Thanks to pretrial intervention, he was able to have the record expunged. In the years since, he’s gone on to head up one of the largest companies in the cannabis space.
Photo by Doug Berry via Getty Images
Riley, who is white, says his race and the sentencing disparity allowed him and the other men arrested, who were all Black, to receive pretrial intervention and not a stiffer sentence.
“If I wasn’t arrested, it would have been really different for them,” Riley says.
In addition to finding work in the space, returning citizens could also find opportunities creating an ancillary business or joining a team seeking a license. In many states, applicants receive additional points for partnering with returning individuals.
Additional Efforts To Continue Healing
Those looking to do their part can do so in a variety of ways.
“The entire industry has to remain united and focused on making cannabis justice part of our platform, right alongside other fundamentals like legalization and access,” says Macias. “Mentorship is free.”
N.E.W.’s Marshall says that funding and support for literacy workshops, programs and other educational efforts are also key.
“Let other industries know that they should be doing the same healing work, if you do any, and challenge them to do the same,” she says.
“We should all be asking what are the right steps to making justice, equity and wealth realistic, obtainable and available for communities that have been the most impacted and affected by this systemic injustice that capitalism no longer wants to call ‘a drug.'”
Small gatherings are increasing the number of COVID cases around the country. What does this mean for the winter and holiday season?
As fall and winter approach, the U.S. has been experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases across the nation. According to the director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) one of the most worrisome sources of infections is small gatherings, especially now that the holidays are near. What does this mean?
After 7 months of living through a pandemic, government guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety remain strangely hazy. While the CDC hasn’t exactly defined a “small gathering,” they have released a guideline regarding COVID-19 and the holidays, giving us something to work with.
According to the CDC, the location and length of gatherings are two very important factors; outdoor gatherings are less risky than indoor ones, providing people with sources of ventilation and more space to comply with social distance guidelines. The duration of the gathering is also important, because the more time you spend with others, the higher the risk of contracting COVID-19. This means that outdoor drinks held in someone’s backyard, with a moderate amount of guests, are less risky than a large dinner held in someone’s home.
Photo by rawpixel.com
Other factors to consider include whether you or your guests have traveled recently, the level of risk of the area where you live, and your guests’ lifestyle. Have they been complying with social distancing guidelines? Have they been exposed to the virus within the last 10 days? All of this information matters before setting up an in-person meeting of any kind.
Dr. Shunling Tsang, medical director for ambulatory quality and vice chair of the department of family medicine at Riverside University Health System in California, explained to Health magazine that while it’s tough to stay away from friends and family during the holidays, with the numbers of cases and hospitalizations rising all over the country, the safest gatherings would be those that are virtual.
“If there is a need for a small gathering,” she said, “it should be held outdoors with social distancing, [and] strict adherence to mask wearing and to local and state public health guidelines.”
The hemp industry contends the Interim Final Rule is unlawful because it exceeds the DEA’s authority and violates the Agricultural Improvement Act, among other things.
The Canna Law Blog has been writing about the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) interim final rule (IFR) on hemp since its August publication in the Federal Register:
Most recently, Nathalie Bougenieswrote about a petition for review against the DEA filed by the Hemp Industries Association and RE Botanicals in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (the “D.C. Circuit”). Why the fuss? As Nathalie explained, the IFR:
suggests that in-process hemp shall be treated as a schedule I controlled substance during any point at which its THC concentration exceeds 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. ‘Any point’ includes even fleetingly during the processing phase and includes situations where the THC percentage is brought back into legal compliance for the finished product.
So will the DEA start raiding hemp processors? Who knows, but the implications are not good and led to the hemp industry making a concerted effort against the IFR. One such effort is the petition for review, which contends the IFR is unlawful because it exceeds the DEA’s authority, violates the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, and contends that the DEA violated the regulations governing the promulgation of rules set forth in the Administrative Procedures Act (“APA”).
This week, the hemp industry opened a new front against the DEA and the IFR. On October 12, Petitioners in the D.C. Circuit filed a separate lawsuit against the DEA in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This is the “trial court” for Washington D.C. as opposed to the appellate court, the D.C. Circuit, in which the petition for review was filed. (Email me if you’d like a copy of the Complaint).
Although the lawsuit and petition overlap, the lawsuit seeks relief different from the petition for review as well as injunctive relief that is not available through the petition for review. In the lawsuit, where Petitioners are now “Plaintiffs,” they seek:
A declaration that the definition of hemp in Section 1639o, includes “intermediate hemp material” (IHM) and “waste hemp material” (WHM).
Section 1639o is the law that defines hemp. The Complaint describes IHM and WHM as “two necessary and inevitable byproducts of hemp processing.” More specifically, it describes IHM as the output from the evaporation of oil, “which contain concentrated levels of cannabinoids, because all other parts of the plan have been stripped away.” This by-product, say Plaintiffs, is not added to, or used as an ingredient in, any consumer product. Instead it is refined into extracts or isolates containing not more than .3% Δ9-THC. As for WHM, the Complaint describes that as another “output from evaporation” when a processor is creating isolates of specific cannabinoids.
Photo by Bloomberg Creative/Getty Images
Broadly, the legal argument is as follows:
By defining hemp, inclusive of derivatives and extracts, based on its Δ9-THC concentration on a dry weight basis, and by removing THC in hemp from control, Congress removed hemp-derived materials from the CSA that do not contain more than 0.3% Δ9-THC at points when Δ9-THC can be measured on a dry weight basis.” (emphasis added).
So once material is hemp (i.e. passes testing, and including IHM and WHM) it remains hemp through processing even if there are temporary moments where the Δ9-THC concentration of the IHM or WHM may exceed .3%. And since hemp is not a controlled substance, neither are IHM or WHM.
A declaration that the THC in IHM and WHM is not a controlled substance.
The argument here is straightforward. The 2018 Farm Bill amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule I to read that “Tetrahydrocannabinols, except for tetrahydrocannabinols in hemp (as defined under [Section 1639o]).” Consequently, the argument goes, Congress removed all THC in hemp from the CSA. And since IHM and WHM are hemp-derived materials which contain THC, the THC in those materials is not a controlled substance.
The third claim for declaratory relief is similar to the Petition for Review as it asks the Court to declare that the DEA lacks independent authority to regulate any aspect of hemp production, including IHM and WHM.
And finally, the Complaint seeks preliminary and permanent injunctive relief in the form of an order that enjoins the DEA from enforcing the CSA as to IHM and WHM and from classifying IHM or WHM as Schedule I substances. The claim for injunctive relief is important in at least two respects. First because Plaintiffs seek to stop the DEA from trying to “fix” the interim final rules, if the Court finds that certain aspects are problematic. And second because the Plaintiffs have the opportunity to seek preliminary injunctive relief before a trial which may not happen for more than a year.
The claim for injunctive relief also is important because the petition for review, filed in the appellate court, is not the forum to seek injunctive relief in the first instance. So by bringing a claim for injunctive relief in district court, Hemp Industries Association and RE Botanicals have the ability to try and prevent the DEA from enforcing the IFR on a much quicker timetable.
The public comment period on the DEA’s new rule is open until October 20, 2020. We encourage all stakeholders in the hemp industry to submit comments against the DEA’s interim final rule. You can submit your comment at this link.
Jesse Mondry is an attorney at Harris Bricken and this article was originally published on the Canna Law Blog and was reposted with permission.
For the past few years, hospitals and medical professionals have been meeting to develop policies that set a unified pattern of using products derived from marijuana to treat specific patients.
“A new and deadly menace is lurking behind closed doors. Marijuana, the burning weed with its roots in hell…” That is the opening trailer voice over of the extremely alarmist 1936 black-and-white film Reefer Madness. In the old Hollywood trailer, the narrator elevates the marijuana melodrama to the danger level of an immediate alien invasion.
We like to think we have become enlightened in the eight or more decades since then. But the subject of marijuana is still causing extreme concerns in the medical community. And there are still many pockets of resistance in the legal, medical and user community to prescribing marijuana, because of the legacy of this history.
Even as two of its key components, CBD and THC, are studied and researched, the ingredient that produces the high associated with marijuana and the side effects of that high are still being discussed, debated and explored today.
For many people suffering from chronic pain and other physical ailments, marijuana could be used quite successfully. Even with conditions like, fibromyalgia, endometriosis — which both share chronic pain — THC can alleviate some symptoms.
For the past few years, hospitals and medical professionals have been meeting to develop policies that set a unified pattern of using products derived from marijuana to treat specific patients. In 2015, the Minnesota Hospital Association made policy decisions around marijuana and its legalization for some medical conditions. A broad consensus of medical professionals agreed that products could benefit patients, especially those with chronic pain conditions said Dr. Rahul Koranne, MD, MBA, FACA, who is the chief medical officer of the Association.
Speaking from experience, Dr. Koranne also strongly advised the nurses, pharmacists, representatives from drug associations (including professional boards), as well as drug advisory councils and legal counsel, be brought into the policy making meetings.
Photo by Esther Kelleter/EyeEm/Getty Images
A case from 2014, that eventually won over Dr. Sanjay Gupta and made national news, is still relevant and underscores the use of both CBD and THC in the treatment of patients. An incredibly young patient, Charlotte Figi, suffered daily epileptic seizures, from a rare form of epilepsy. With doctors and initially Charlotte’s patents, both opposed to the use of medical marijuana for such a young patient, everyone eventually came together. The family met with two doctors, Margaret Gedley and Alan Shackelford, who advised medical marijuana.
To address their desperately needed supply, the Figi family met with a Colorado couple, the Stanleys, who had a modified strain, that was high in CBD and comparatively low in THC. The strain was ideal for a young child and became known as Charlotte’s Web and is now widely available.
The visibility of the later Dr. Gupta segment with Charlotte removed some of the stigmas for medical marijuana and led to more states adopting rules governing the safe use of marijuana. But since 2015, we haven’t come so far. As a doctor, are you educated around marijuana and the risks and rewards?
We know that sex can be a great stress reliever for many people. That can also be said for viewing pornography.
During the months of uneasiness and stress of the pandemic, there have been notable changes in behaviors.
In the early months of the pandemic new stresses entered our lives as we moved in and out of quarantine, social isolation, debated about masks and social distancing, dealt with social issues in America, financial uncertainty, health concerns and what to do with the kids (if you have them).
So why would that affect our sex lives? And how could it affect our sex lives?
Sex is a very interesting part of the human experience. It is affected by our physical being and our emotional makeup. Assuming that there has been no change in the physical nature of a person over the past seven months of the pandemic, we have to look at the emotional makeup of a person to ascertain what can change their behavior.
During extended periods of stress, we can see an increase of our typical sexual activity, a decrease in sexual activity, a change from typical sexual activity, a change in watching pornography, an indifference to sexual activity. During the pandemic we also have the addition of isolation or sequestration with a small group of people for an extended period of time.
So why are there so many possibilities? Different people react differently to stress and boredom. Our social situations are different.
For those who are single, an adjustment has to be considered about both casual dating and long term non-live in relationships. Many people are concerned about breaking down the social distancing because their risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 is dependent upon whom they or their partner have been near.
Photo by scyther5/Getty Images
The recent work of Justin Lehmilleri showed that during the pandemic, half of those interviewed had a decrease in their sexual activities and 20% expanded their sexual repertoire. It has also been reported that internationally, pornography viewing has surged. Pornhub reported a rise in traffic during the early time of social distancing. International traffic increased by 11.6% early in March. Surprisingly, traffic in Italy increased by 57% on March 12ii.
We know that sex can be a great stress reliever for many people. That can also be said for viewing pornography.
So, is pornography addiction a possibility? The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) doesn’t recognize pornography addiction as a mental health diagnosis. But there can be compulsion to watching porn. In 2002 a Kinsey Institute surveyiii found that 9% of people who view porn were unable to stop. This can lead to cause difficulties in time management and romantic relationships. It is interesting that in men it tends to cause difficulties in sexual intimacy whereas in women, intimacy increasediv.
If we put two and two together, considering that the social isolation has changed the sexual repertoire in couples, I wonder if the viewing of pornography might also push people into exploration of new pornographic sites. Even pornography might become boring to some people who need new challenges to increase interest.
So, in my viewpoint, social isolation, stress and boredom of the pandemic gives people an outlet to view pornography which, in a small proportion of them, will lead into a compulsion to watch pornography.
. I Justin J. Lehmiller, Justin R. Garcia, Amanda N. Gesselman & Kristen P. Mark (2020) Less Sex, but More Sexual Diversity: Changes in Sexual Behavior during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic, Leisure Sciences, DOI: 10.1080/01490400.2020.1774016
ii Joe Price (2020) March 19, 2020, These Graphs Demonstrate How Much Pornhub Traffic Has Increased Due To Coronavirus Self-Isolation, Complex.com
iii Weir, K. (2014, April). Is pornography addictive? Monitor on Psychology, 45(4). http://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/04/pornography
iv BRIDGES, A.J. and MOROKOFF, P.J. (2011), Sexual media use and relational satisfaction in heterosexual couples. Personal Relationships, 18: 562-585. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01328.x
Minimalism has grown more popular in our cultures, helping people declutter and focus on the stuff that really matters in their lives.
Minimalism is a word that refers to many things, most closely associated with topics like art and design. When mentioned, it evokes images of white walls within spare and functional apartments. Now, it’s a word that is also seen as a lifestyle, even if there’s no clear cut definition as to how to do it or what it does.
When discussed by people who’ve embraced minimalism, the term refers to cutting from your life all the stuff that isn’t considered necessary. This can be internalized in different ways, whether that means having less books in your library, less clothes cluttering up your closet or less distracting relationships in your life.
It’s a lifestyle choice that sounds healthy and tempting, but that can also be intimidating, especially when out culture focuses so much on consumption. The good thing is that, again, minimalism can be interpreted in any way you want. It can help people save money, be happier, and find more peace in their day to day lives.
“Being at home allowed me a moment to pause and assess everything I owned and, more importantly, what I really needed. The idea of conscious living and of maintaining a simple life were the ideals that attracted me to minimalism,” minimalist Christine Platt tells Domino Magazine.
Photo by Hutomo Abrianto via Unsplash
While a lot of minimalists adhere to the sparseness of spaces and clean and white colors, not all of them do. “Our buying and furnishing choices hinge on a different question: Does this matter and does this make us free?” says Platt, who incorporates elements of her African heritage in her home’s design.
When it comes to the challenges of minimalism, there are a few, especially when it comes to decluttering and in coming face to face with all the stuff we own and that we put emotional baggage into. Realizing all the stuff you own and have spent money on can make people feel guilty and like they’ve lost control of their lives, which of course can be regained the minute they try to exert some control over what they own and use.
One of the most beneficial aspects of minimalism is how the physical — less items, less clutter — can translate into the internal. People who embrace minimalism often discuss the benefits that the philosophy has added into their lives, how they are now more intentional with their time, goals and relationships. Once you cut down on distractions, there’s more time and energy to focus on what matters most.
There’s a lot of anxiety and uncertainty right now, but CBD can help you manage your stress and be the best parent you can be.
The start of every school year is always chaotic for parents. But now,between online classrooms, managing hybrid schedules, and giving out endless snacks (all while working from home), this year has brought on a whole new level of mayhem. Talk about stressful!
Unfortunately, excess stress isn’t healthy for you or your family, though. Your kids need you to be at your best every day so they can thrive, whether they are going to school in person or online.
More and more parents are turning to CBD during the pandemic to reduce stress, quell anxiety, and sleep better at night. Here’s why you might want to consider CBD as you navigate these unprecedented times.
Keep calm
You and your kids are navigating uncharted and nerve-wracking territory this year. Yes, they are probably going to ask you 500 math and reading questions a day. However, yelling or getting frustrated isn’t healthy for you or your child. It’s so important to stay calm. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Child Psychology found that parental hostility like yelling and nagging can lead to behavioral problems and child aggression over time. Luckily a 2018 study found that a combination of CBD and THC reduced stress and anxiety by 58% among participants.
Reduce anxiety
Photo by Juliane Liebermann via Unsplash
There’s a lot of anxiety and uncertainty right now — when will your kids return to school and see their friends again?
Unfortunately, anxiety can lead to a host of symptoms, such as higher blood pressure, increased heart rate, and fatigue. Over time it can even lead to long-term health problems like heart disease and a higher likelihood of getting sick.
You want to stay healthy and be there for your family, of course. Studies have found that CBD can help reduce anxiety symptoms. It also may help treat anxiety disorders like panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (in case you get anxious about those daily Zoom calls with your kid’s teachers) and obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Sleep better
You probably make your kids adhere to a strict bedtime on school nights. But if you aren’t sleeping well, you aren’t going to perform well or show up for your kids the next day, either. CBD can help reduce symptoms of insomnia. A 2019 study also found that participants who reduced anxiety overall slept better at night. That means performing better and being more alert the next day, too.
Now if CBD could just help solve those math problems for you!
Night sweats, day jitters, and the need for weed all pass in a matter of days to a week or so if you experience them at all.
If you search the internet for “cannabis withdrawal,” you’ll find a few helpful articles from cannabis sites acknowledging cravings, short lived mood swings and trouble sleeping. But mostly you’ll find drug war propaganda that suggests treatment options that can be as severe as physically checking into rehab.
Most cannabis users have had to quit for a period at some time or another in life. Sometimes for a few days, sometimes weeks or even months. Maybe a job came along that conducts hair sample tests, maybe you’re vacationing in a non-cannabis friendly place, perhaps it’s probation or a detox of some sort.
Whatever the reason for quitting, there are reasonable ways to combat any cannabis withdrawal related symptoms. The most common report is that sleep doesn’t come as easily, and when it does, the dreams are super vivid (not to mention a little sweaty). One way to have a restful night’s sleep is to take melatonin prior to bedtime. It’s an all-natural sleep aid that also works well with cannabis for when you’re back on the horse.
Exercise is a great way to get anything off your mind, even a sticky, icky bowl of dankness going unsmoked. So if you’re in it for the long run, a gym membership isn’t a bad idea. However, the concept of exercise brings to the forefront an important point: Cannabis withdrawal isn’t what you’re necessarily concerned about if using cannabis medicinally; the return of your ailment’s symptoms, however, is a different story.
Photo by Irene Rodriguez/EyeEm/Getty Images
In the case of medicinal users, especially those for whom cannabis has been a lifesaver and continues to be one, heavy consideration should be taken before a decision is made regarding an extended break. Talk to your doctor if they’re of the supportive mindset and see if you can’t get a letter explaining that it is your medicine and absolutely crucial. It won’t always get you out of a jam, but it’s worth a shot. Weigh your options and seek alternatives before quitting cold turkey.
Night sweats, day jitters, and the need for weed all pass in a matter of days to a week or so if you experience them at all. Cannabis isn’t the kind of drug that makes someone go out and rob and steal to get more, at least not culturally or anecdotally. So don’t go switching to something that might lead you down the wrong path as a substitute. Have a cup of your favorite tea and wait for any symptoms to go by the wayside.
Time to get yourself psyched for cold weather running! Need some help? Here are a few tips that might actually turn you into a winter weather athlete!
If you developed a running habit this year, you’re not the only one. Since the pandemic hit the U.S., people have depended on running as a way of practicing social distancing. While many gyms are now reopening, there’s no need to give up on running, which is a practical workout that keeps you healthy and provides tons of enjoyment (for some).
While the weather must definitely be accounted for, running is still possible, even when it’s cold, dark and rainy. You just have to get yourself outside. Here are some tips that can help you go for a run when the weather is terrible:
The best approach you can take is to get excited over the prospect of running in different weather. When it’s cold out, even though it’s difficult to get yourself out there, people can usually run for longer periods of time, feeling more refreshed and less tired and sweaty than they would in the summer. To help get yourself stoked over this fact, create a playlist or buy appropriate gear, like cool running shoes and weatherproof running jackets. Spending some money on your hobby will make it more difficult for you to flake out.
Get a workout buddy
Having someone you can count on is also an effective way of making sure you won’t back out at the last minute. Talk to a friend, someone who’s motivated and won’t indulge you when you send them a lazy text.
Adding your workouts to your calendar in advance can help you adapt to the changing weather. Try to find days that are less cold and rainy and choose a time that works for you. If you skip out on one of these workouts, don’t beat yourself up. But it does work to plan ahead and to know which days you’ll expect to go running outside and which days you’ll use to rest.
Remember how good you’ll feel once you’re done
You never regret working out once you’ve done it. Those feeling of euphoria and accomplishment are hard to beat. Yes, the weather was rough and you felt like a lazy dog, but you did it! Try to think of this feeling when you’re pumping yourself up for a workout, reminding yourself that the laziness fades within the first couple of minutes of your run.
