Without going overboard with all the science babble, let’s just say that CBD pushes back against the stoned effects of marijuana.
In a lot of ways, CBD has become a socially acceptable way for the zombies of popular culture to consume marijuana without being considered a stoner — this in spite of the fact it is a derivative of the cannabis plant, a substance the federal government still considers a no-no.
But how is it that this part of the plant doesn’t come with the high typically associated with weed? Why doesn’t CBD get you stoned? Well, that’s all science, baby.
It was back in 1992 when scientists learned the human body was equipped with what is called the endocannabinoid system, a series of receptors (CB1 and CB2) all over the body designed perfectly to respond to cannabis. Considering cannabinoids were first discovered in the 1940s, it is baffling it took researchers so long to determine humans were built to feel the effects of marijuana. But they finally got there (that’s all that is important), leaning how the various components of the cannabis plant reacted with certain receptors in the brain, immune system and vital organs.
Without going overboard with all the science babble, let’s just say that CBD pushes back against the stoned effects of marijuana. If THC — the chemical compound in pot that produces the feel goods — is the party, CBD is the person at the door making sure the scene doesn’t spiral out of control.
It is for this reason if an individual smokes a strain with a near equal ratio of THC:CBD, the high that comes with it will not be as intense as a high-THC strain on its own.
Photo by LauriPatterson/Getty Images
Although CBD is often referred to as the non-psychoactive compound, this is not completely accurate. The cannabinoid does work on the mind, which typically makes it a psychoactive force, only it does this without getting the user stoned. This is why CBD has the ability to combat pain and even certain mental health issues.
Research has shown the compound has mood enhancement properties, not to mention the ability to relieve anxiety and reduce seizure frequency in epilepsy patients. In fact, CBD’s ability to control seizures is really where much of its popularity originated.
It’s true CBD is non-intoxicating, but it can still lead to incarceration. Depending on how the substance is manufactured (marijuana CBD vs. hemp CBD), it is still considered a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
CBD extracted from industrial hemp seed is typically overlooked, but possession of any substance squeezed from the cannabis plant itself can lead to jail. It is important to understand the pot laws in your state.
Because meditation is an important part of any yoga practice, CBD can help slow down the racing thoughts in your head, allowing you to enjoy some calmer vibes.
Whether you are one of the uber-bendy yogis who down dogs daily, or you are someone who just dabbles in the occasional vinyasa, you might be ready to take your practice to the next level. Here are some ways CBD can enhance your yoga practice.
It turns out, CBD and yoga can be a harmonious combination. From getting you in the right mindset for practice and meditation, to helping heal your sore muscles from too many yogi pushups, here’s why CBD may be your new trusty go-to.
While getting into a meditative state comes naturally for some, others of us have a lot of trouble sitting still. Because meditation is an important part of any yoga practice, CBD can help slow down the racing thoughts in your head, allowing you to enjoy some calmer vibes. If you experience anxiety, brain fog, or depression, CBD may benefit you, too.
Sometimes it can take 30 minutes or more before you feel like you’re focused enough to enjoy the class, right? For a one-hour class, that time can be crucial. CBD can help get your mind yoga-ready. That includes helping clear your head and let go of stress so you’ll be ready to flow faster. Once you are in class, you’ll also feel more focused so you can power through until the last down dog sequence.
As well as getting your mind ready for yoga, CBD can also benefit your body. If you’re coming to your mat with any residual tightness or tension from a previous practice or workout, CBD can help you loosen up faster. It also can help rid your spine, upper back, and shoulders of any rigidness so you can start to bend and move comfortably.
Yoga can be a relaxing way to exercise, but it’s also hard work. A one-hour vinyasa flow can involve pushups, planks, and other muscle strengthening moves.
Turning to CBD after a difficult class can help you recover faster by helping fight inflammation, reducing soreness, and easing tightness in your muscles. (Pro tip: Try adding a CBD bath bomb or salts to your bubble bath and you’ll be feeling better in no time.) Plus, CBD may help you sleep better at night post-yoga, which is crucial for muscle recovery. In the next day or two, you’ll be ready to flow again.
In many states, dispensaries are essential businesses during the pandemic. Here are some of the most common safety measures they’ve implemented.
Even though dispensaries are considered essential businesses, the pandemic has still affected them. Just like any other business, marijuana retailers are enforcing new safety measure to keep you COVID-free. Here are just a few of the precautions they’ve implemented.
Adapting to shopping trends
Unlike other businesses that have had to cope with less customers during the pandemic, dispensaries have been experiencing more visits and larger orders. While sales aren’t exactly as robust as they were when COVID first hit, don’t be surprised to see more people than usual in your dispensary or notice that some products have gone out of stock.
In order to keep people safe, dispensaries are limiting the amount of costumers they let inside, allowing for social distanced waiting lines that are usually held outdoors. Some dispensaries might also be implementing shopping schedules.
Every state and business implements social distancing guidelines differently. If you live somewhere where there’s a relatively low number of cases, you most likely won’t notice a big change except, hopefully, seeing employees and customers wearing masks. If you live in a state with a large number of cases, dispensaries will likely allow smaller groups of people indoors and will enforce outside social distanced lines.
Strict sanitary measures
Dispensaries should be handling their products more carefully, with employees wearing both gloves and masks. They might suggest customers pay with credit and debit cards (instead of their usual cash-only policy) in order to minimize the exchange of paper currency. They could also be more careful when providing options to customers, not allowing people to interact with every product they find appealing. Dispensaries might also offer hand sanitizer to customers as they enter and leave the premises.
Some of the most useful options for businesses trying to cope with pandemic include providing delivery and curbside pickup. While delivery is at times complicated when it comes to cannabis, most dispensaries are offering curbside pickup, where you call ahead of time, ask for your order and wait outside the dispensary for an employee to bring your product out. If you know what you want, you can also call your dispensary ahead of time and choose the product you’d like to purchase to eliminate the hassle of spending time inside the store.
Relying on customers
It’s very important for customers to be aware of the risk of the virus and for them to be careful with employees and other customers. Be sure to wear your mask and to avoid entering indoor locations that are crowded. Use all of the tools at your disposal, whether that’s delivery, curbside pickup or simply keeping your distance from others and being mindful of yourself.
Katy Perry is a Grammy nominated singer who just gave birth to her first child. What’s her relationship with marijuana?
Katy Perry has had a big week. The multi-Grammy award nominee and “American Idol” judge just gave birth to her first child. She also released her new album, “Smile,” coinciding with the 10-year anniversary of her biggest hit, “Teenage Dream.” But does Katy Perry consume weed?
Perry has had an interesting musical career. At one point, she matched Michael Jackson in record sales, but in recent years, her songs have had trouble breaking the Billboard 100. Perry is a pop star who’s capable of releasing power ballads alongside bubblegum pop anthems. Although she still has a devoted set of fans, her recent work is wobbly, as if it’s still trying to find its footing.
In 2018, musician Telle Smith told Alternative Press that Katy Perry started smoking weed while on tour with his band The World Alive in 2008. He said that he saw her smoking weed from an apple and that she was very excited about it, which is something that you wouldn’t expect from a seasoned weed smoker.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2014, when asked about marijuana, Perry said, “I can’t do that stuff. I’d be like in the corner: ‘Are you trying to kill me?!’” which is extreme, but okay.
More recently, she’s made a couple of tweets alluding to weed, making it clear that she doesn’t smoke, but also doesn’t hold a grudge against the drug either.
I can’t believe we both don’t even smoke and we sound this dope! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH LY❗✌?? https://t.co/3p5xjgIWKC
Although Perry has consumed weed, at least from an apple bong, it doesn’t appear like it’s on her list of priorities. Our verdict is that she’s not a regular weed user, which is cool now that she’s a new mom.
For women who prefer an inconspicuous way to use marijuana, vapes, tinctures and edibles are all good options.
Some women would prefer a more discreet method for using marijuana. If we’re perfectly honest, the smell of smoking cannabis can feel like a little much for certain circumstances. Although there are many options out there, a trip to a dispensary can be downright overwhelming if you’re not certain what you’re looking to buy.
Looking for a more tasteful way to consume cannabis? Here’s a women’s guide to tasteful marijuana use.
Vape
Photo by Jamie Grill/Getty Images
In general, vaping is considered to be one of the healthiest ways to consume weed. A 2007 study published in the Harm Reduction Journal found that vaporizers are associated with lower risks for respiratory damage than smoking.
This isn’t the only reason vaping has become a popular means of consuming marijuana, it is also considered to be a much more subtle delivery method. For starters, vaping doesn’t smell as strongly as smoking if you stick with devices that vaporize concentrates. Additionally, because so many individuals are using e-cigarettes over conventional cigarettes, marijuana users can smoke without unwanted attention, if that is what they desire.
Tincture
Photo by Nisangha/Getty Images
A smokeless marijuana consumption option, tinctures are cannabis extracts that are usually made from alcohol. Some users turn to tinctures because they’re looking for a high or the medicinal properties of cannabis but are concerned about the health risks associated with smoking weed.
For women who prefer an inconspicuous way to use marijuana, tinctures are a fantastic option. Generally, dosing is simple—start with a small dose like a drop or two. Place drops under your tongue and give your body time to absorb before increasing the dosage to make sure you don’t overdo it.
Edibles
Photo by Massimo Adami via Unsplash
Edibles just might be the most subtle means of consuming marijuana, but first-timers should proceed with caution. Cannabis-infused foods are a simple delivery method, but they’re also easy to over-consume. This is because your body has to fully digest the food you consume before you’ll fully experience the effects of the weed it contains. Generally, users will experience a high within half an hour of eating an edible but might not experience the full effect until two hours have passed.
Ultimately, tasteful marijuana use is largely about what makes you feel most comfortable while still allowing you to achieve your desired effects. Whether you’re using recreationally or for the medicinal benefits, experimentation with tinctures, vapes and edibles is a great way to become more familiar with alternative marijuana consumption methods.
Mental health issues are common and sometimes difficult to understand. Here are some social media accounts that offer digestible and informative content.
Mental health is an important subject. In 2020, it’s become even more prominent, with the pandemic affecting the livelihoods and the mental state of people who had never experienced such issues before.
While therapy and counseling are always good options, some people don’t have the money or feel the need to go through the hassle of engaging in therapy. Still, everyone can benefit from positive mental health advice, whether it comes from a good friend or from social media.
Photo by rawpixel.com
Nowadays, there are hundreds of artists, therapists and writers providing sound mental health advice in accessible places. These social media accounts are always there for your perusal, whether you’re feeling down or simply run into them as you scroll through your feed.
The Huffington Post compiled a list of the most prominent social media figures that provide reliable and informative mental health advice. Here are 5 of our favorites:
Yung Pueblo
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEPAcZ_DnOP/
Yung Pueblo, who’s real name is Diego Perez, is a poet and speaker. He’s very vocal about mental health, providing advice from relationships, to personal growth, to emotional management. He has over 930k followers and his posts are clean and text based, good for people who don’t want to add more visual clutter to their feeds.
Make Daisy Chains is the kind of social media account that has all sorts of followers, from those interested in the beautiful artwork, to those people who are looking for sound mental health advice. She engages with topics like depression, anxiety and self-care, providing advice for people going through all sorts of issues.
Lauren Ash
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEK7AgnBIQb/
Lauren Ash is the founder of Black Girl In Om, a yoga community for Black women and women of color. Ash’s Instagram page provides digital workshops and insight on her practices on wellness, meditation and journaling, which give viewers helpful tools when going through uncertain and stressful times.
Rodrick Convington is an actor and fitness instructor, known for his work in Core Rhythm Fitness, a company that’s all about changing your health through your nutrition. His Instagram page is filled with informative and inspiring posts, providing updates on Black Lives Matter, his personal stories, and fitness and mindfulness advice.
Notes From Your Therapist
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEWt2_4jlFq/
Notes From Your Therapist is another popular Instagram page. The author of it, Allyson Dinneen, is a psychologist and author that writes out thoughtful advice and uploads images of it online. Her advice ranges from commentaries on friendships, relationships, personal anecdotes, quotes she loves and even bits of flash memoir.
Even in a pandemic, alone time is important. Here are 5 polite ways to ask for it.
These past five months have been weird. The pandemic has us feeling lonely and in our heads, as if we’re missing out something, making it difficult for us to stop reminiscing about our pre-COVID lives and all the stuff we took for granted. Now that entire seasons have passed and many of us have spent long stretches of time with our partners, roommates or parents, it’s common to feel a need for alone time, some space where you can think for yourself without having to share room with another person.
While it’s nice to bond over this experience with others, it’s also nice to have the time and space to watch bad shows alone or make your favorite kind of food without accounting for others.
Here are 5 polite ways to tell people that you need some alone time:
Pick something you want to do alone
Before you tell your roommate or partner that you’re sick of their face, come up with a plan. Do some research on what it is that you want to do alone, and what the benefits will be. Maybe you want to go for a solo hike or you want to stay up late and binge a show that you know other people won’t like. Figure out what “alone time” means to you, whether you need to leave the house to do it or if a peaceful bath does the trick.
When talking to others about your space and alone time, it’s important to stick to the plan you formulated and avoid creating an argument. The phrase “I need space” is sensitive and open to interpretation. While you might be referring to your solo hike, your partner could interpret this as a break up. Be clear about your intentions and stick to your script.
Be clear about your feelings
No matter your feelings, be clear about them. Explain why you need space and why you don’t want your partner or friends to be offended. Make it clear that physical space isn’t the same as emotional space. Some people need alone time to recharge in order to enjoy time with others. This is difficult to understand for some and it might hurt their feelings.
It’s important to realize that every person is different, and that these types of unprecedented situations, such as a pandemic, prompt unexpected reactions. Don’t feel bad if you feel overwhelmed or exhausted by constant companionship.
Make your time with others more special
After you recharge, it’s much more likely that you’ll enjoy time with others. Be sure to reassure your friends or partner, and understand that they might feel anxious. Plan the next time you spend time together by doing something special and nice, using your personal space to enhance your relationship.
“I’m not going to get into the use of medical marijuana,” RNC chair Ronna McDaniel said, adding that cannabis should be left up to the states.
The head of the Republican National Committee refused to answer questions whether or not medical cannabis users had a home in the modern GOP. Instead, RNC chair Ronna McDaniel insisted that cannabis should be left up to the states and the Republican party had no official policy comments on the matter.
McDaniel was interviewed by Gray Television Washington News Bureau reporter Alana Austin, who had recently profiled Virginia-based RNC delegate Dean Peterson’s journey using cannabis to treat his chronic pain. Peterson had canvassed Page County during the 2016 election to support Donald Trump, who had then voiced support for medical cannabis and leaving alone states with regulated marijuana markets.
Austin asked RNC chair McDaniel: “Is there a place in the GOP for folks who support medical marijuana?”
“I don’t really address policy issues like medical marijuana,” McDaniel responded. “That’s left up to the states and there’s going to be variances between states. But that’s not something that the RNC puts forward as policy. That’s a legislative issue.”
“We’re actually a body that helps elect Republicans and turn out the vote,” she continued. “That’s what we’re focused on for the next 69 days is turning out that vote to reelect President Trump, keep the Senate and take back the House.”
A disabled Virginia RNC delegate found comfort in marijuana after suffering from chronic pain for years. He shares his story, and @alana_austin asks the RNC chair Ronna McDaniel about the party's stance on cannabis. Watch here >>> https://t.co/OcgjBm9ngWpic.twitter.com/PrwBbRZwKA
— Gray Media Washington News Bureau (@GrayDCnews) August 26, 2020
The issue is an important one for Republican voters who also support access to legal cannabis. Trump expressed in 2018 he would back the STATES Act — legislation that would protect legal marijuana states from federal interference — but the bill was blocked by Senate Majority Leader and Trump associate Mitch McConnell.
This year, however, the Trump Administration has an association with prohibitionist actions that may cause alarm to cannabis advocates. Trump advised Republicans to keep legalization off the ballots this November if they want to win and the President reportedly fears that if states allow voters an opportunity to legalize cannabis, it would lose him the White House.
Photo by Esther Kelleter/EyeEm/Getty Images
The RNC did not create a new platform for the 2020 Election and will re-use its national platform from 2016. That platform does mention marijuana and states in “many jurisdictions, marijuana is virtually legalized despite its illegality under federal law.”
It also mentions that: “All this highlights the continuing conflicts and contradictions in public attitudes and public policy toward illegal substances. Congress and a new administration should consider the long-range implications of these trends for public health and safety and prepare to deal with the problematic consequences.”
But when Austin asked McDaniel a follow-up question about medical cannabis, the RNC head did not budge.
“I’m not going to get into the use of medical marijuana,” said McDaniel.
“We didn’t have a platform this year because of changing our rules,” she continued. “That’s going to be left up to the states and our legislators and I’m not going to engage in something that hasn’t been vetted through our full platform and the ability for our delegates to meet to discuss an issue like that.”
For one, CDPH rule 40175(c) bans the use of hemp or CBD in cannabis products even though there is no real reason to continue to prohibit the use of hemp-derived cannabinoids.
California’s three cannabis agencies — the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC), California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — aggressively regulate every aspect of the state’s licensed cannabis industry. Most of the agencies’ rules make sense or have some justifiable purpose. Today, I want to talk about some of the rules that create the biggest headaches for cannabis licensees in the Golden State. This list is by no means exhaustive, but we have seen a lot of stakeholders struggle with compliance with each of them.
#1 Post-Approval Ownership Changes
The California cannabis agencies have detailed regulations requiring disclosures of changes of “owners” and “financial interest holders”. What makes these rules problematic is that the agencies require disclosures after the changes take place (unlike many municipalities which require pre-approval). These rules, in my opinion, are some of the worst and can make cannabis transactions extremely difficult to draft.
For example, say a company wants to buy 50% of the shares of a licensed cannabis entity. That company will have to acquire those shares before being disclosed to the cannabis agencies. Problematically, there’s always a risk that the agencies could come back and refuse to approve the acquisition. From the buyer’s point of view, this is incredibly risky because if the change is denied, the money the buyer paid could be gone.
These rules lead to all kinds of transactions–everything from granting security interests to paying nominal fees prior to regulatory approvals–and create unnecessary risks and complications for M&A transactions or investments. It would have been so much simpler to simply allow licensees to submit requests before ownership changes occurred.
#2 Hours of Operation
BCC rule 5403 only allows retailers to sell or deliver cannabis between 6 AM and 10 PM. Rule 5415(d) further states that delivery begins when a driver leaves the premises and ends when they return, shortening that window since drivers need to be back before 10 PM. In many cases, cities restrict this window even further. This is one of the less defensible rules of the BCC. There’s no good reason to cut sales off arbitrarily at 10 PM when alcohol can continue to be sold well after that time. All this rule does is steer people who want to purchase cannabis after hours to the illicit market.
#3 Branded Merchandise Limitations
Licensed retailers are permitted to sell certain branded merchandise, but the BCC maintains that retailers can’t sell other licensees’ branded merchandise. I have been told that the rationale for the rule was to prohibit the sale of merch from unlicensed brands, but this doesn’t seem to be the best approach. Per the BCC’s guidance, branded merch is treated like advertisement and must identify the licensee responsible for the ad. With this in mind, the BCC could have easily allowed retailers to sell merch of other licensed companies. This rule just makes it that much harder for smaller or lesser-known brands to get their name out there.
#4 Prohibition of Drive-Thru Sales
BCC rule 5025 prohibits drive-in or drive-through sales, except for a limited number of businesses who qualified before June 2018. It’s become painfully obvious over the last few months how beneficial drive-through sales could have been with COVID-19. To be fair, the BCC has relaxed some rules to allow curbside pickups upon certain requests, it seems like the prohibition on drive-through sales needs some serious revisiting, even for a post-COVID world.
#5 Distributor Packaging/Labeling Restrictions
BCC rule 5303 allows retailers to package, label, and re-package/re-label cannabis and pre-rolls, but not manufactured products. Previous emergency rules had allowed distributors to package and label manufactured goods in certain circumstances, but this was removed from the rules. This created a lot of confusion when the rule was implemented without any grace period, and still leads to difficulties from time to time. Distributors who learn that a packaged manufactured product has incorrect labeling have much more limited options today and can’t simply fix the issue themselves.
CDPH rule 40175(c) bans the use of hemp or CBD in cannabis products. The rule states: “A manufacturer licensee shall only use cannabinoid concentrates and extracts that are manufactured or processed from cannabis obtained from a licensed cannabis cultivator.” While the rule doesn’t say that it bans hemp on its face, in its final statement of reasons, CDPH explained:
Cannabis products may contain CBD derived from cannabis. Proposition 64 specifically excluded industrial hemp and its derivatives from the cannabis regulatory structure. Consequently, using cannabinoids acquired from outside of the regulated structure presents a risk of inversion of illicit cannabis product into the legal market and threatens the integrity of the track-and-trace system. In order to protect the highly regulated nature of the cannabis market, all cannabinoids must be acquired from licensed sources.
The CDPH’s rationale no longer holds any weight. Shortly after the rules were adopted, the state implemented a hemp cultivation plan, and many others have followed suit. If the CDPH is concerned that lawfully cultivated hemp is not tested per the same standards as cannabis, that concern is of no moment because the finished product would still ultimately need to be tested before going to market. There is no real reason to continue to prohibit the use of hemp-derived cannabinoids.
#7 Protracted Licensing
This last one isn’t a rule, but rather the absence of a rule and something that could have been better handled by California’s cannabis statute, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA). MAUCRSA requires applicants to secure local approval as a condition to getting a state license. Businesses had to go through long local permitting processes prior to submitting a state license. Some cities provide conditional approval that allow applicants to go get a state license partway through the local process, but this still requires waiting potentially months to even apply for a state license (all the while expending huge amounts of resources on rent and other expenses).
Historically, this added a lot of time onto the process, though the state has gotten much faster in issuing licenses. In hindsight (and for any states considering licensing in the future), allowing licensees to apply on a dual track at once would have saved a lot of time.
Griffen Thorne is an attorney at Harris Bricken. This article originally appeared on Canna Law Blog and has been reposted with permission.
Going on innovative and adventurous dates isn’t easy with coronavirus. But here are some ideas that may help fan the flames of romance.
The pandemic and dating are a bad combination. Whether people are dating others out of their bubbles and asking awkward coronavirus questions, or couples are tired of watching Netflix and chilling, it’s a weird time for romance. Boarded up businesses, mask wearers and social distancing rules don’t exactly help spark the flame.
Now that summer is about to end, it’s important to try to make the most out of it, even if you’ve never been an outdoorsy person. Dates nowadays should be fun and romantic, but also safe and distanced from others. Here are 6 safe date ideas:
Drive-in movies
Outdoor movies are making a big comeback during the pandemic. These outings are safe, exposing you only to the people in your car, and provide you with the communal experience of going to the movies — something that many of us miss. Plus, you’ll get to hang out with your date in an environment that’s not a local park.
Bikes have been extremely popular during the pandemic for a reason. Aside from getting you from point A to point B with relative speed, they’re also fun and healthy. Set up a date somewhere you can bike to without having to worry about cars and pedestrians, allowing you to enjoy the weather and each other’s company.
Outdoor museums
Cities and communities have come up with all sorts of creative ways of keeping people entertained. While most museums are closed due to the pandemic, there are those with outdoor installations that can be visited. Some museums are also allowing for a limited amount of visitors. While you may need to wear a mask and time your visits, it’s a nice date idea that will also provide you with a change of pace.
Whether you’re going for a run or turning your leisurely walk into a workout, exercising together is a great date option if you’re relatively comfortable with the person you’re dating. Aside from the fact that it’ll get you both out of the house, workouts are a great way of bonding with people.
A picnic
Picnics and summer are not a new pairing, but they make for great dates as long as you have the right supplies. Instead of sitting on the grass with your shorts and splitting a sandwich, try packing a picnic sheet and bringing food that’s delicious, fresh and easy to eat. Carry a cooler with you and you’ll understand why picnic dates are such a cliche (it’s because they work!).
Walk to a place you love
Photo by Brodie Vissers via Burst
Despite how much we’ve walked over the past few of months, it still helps to remember that walks are fun and healthy, even when done with other people. Walking with someone is a great way to get a conversation going. Try visiting your favorite park or someplace that has some history. Do a quick Google search and map out a route.
