YouTube videos can provide a variety of effects, including free and soothing playlists. Here are some you shouldn’t miss!
Stress is one of those things that doesn’t let you think or act normally. Isolation, financial stress and worries over health are now some of the biggest sources of stress and anxiety for most people, and they’ve been rampant during the year. As always, YouTube videos may provide some help.
There’s a wide variety of YouTube channels out there designed to cater to your different needs, whether that’s entertainment or stress reduction. Another great thing about these channels is that, unlike meditation and anxiety soothing apps, they’re free.
Whether you’re craving the feel of sitting in a coffee shop to work or are looking for some traditional beach sounds, here are 5 YouTube channels that can help you throughout this pandemic:
Calmed by Nature
This channel is great for soothing anxiety and for harnessing and focusing creativity. Unlike many videos with soothing sounds available on YouTube, which simply put a background image of a beach and add some the sounds of waves in, these videos have visual and auditory cues. They last for long periods of time and never feel repetitive.
Designed to help people sleep or unwind after a long and stressful day, these videos feature animations and sounds that fluctuate and are soothing. There’s all kinds of soothing sounds in there, evoking the moods of rainy nights, thunderstorms, white noise ASMR, and more.
Jason Stephenson
Jason Stephenson updates videos regularly, providing guided visualization videos, guided meditations, lectures, and tons of relaxing music. It’s a good channel to follow for anyone who’s looking to de-stress.
Similar to all of the entries on this list, the Guild of Ambiance has different playlists evoking different moods. The main difference is that the account has a “Lord of The Rings” vibe to it, with playlists featuring swamp sounds, fireplace sounds, cave sounds and more. So if you’re into that, you won’t find a better channel.
Relaxing Sounds of Nature
This channel focuses on, like its name suggests, sounds of nature, encouraging people to disconnect from their computers for a bit. The channel has different playlists that evoke different moods such as virtual drives, birds singing, of being surrounded by snow, etc. If you’re feeling locked in and cooped up, there are few things that will provide more relief.
The majority of NJ voters across the political spectrum said they’d support legal cannabis, but probably wouldn’t use it.
A majority of New Jersey residents support legal marijuana. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy suggested earlier this month that legalizing recreational cannabis would be “an incredibly smart thing to do.” According to a new poll, New Jersey residents across the political spectrum agree, with almost 7 out of every 10 registered voters saying they support a November ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana.
The Brach Eichler Cannabis Poll, which was conducted by DKC Analytics and released Tuesday, showed 68% of registered voters would approve the upcoming initiative. Democrats supported the measure more than any other political base, followed by Independents and Republicans. However, the majority of each political faction would vote yes on the ballot initiative.
Back in April, a Monmouth poll found 61% of respondents would approve recreational marijuana in the state. Brach Eichler, LLC, a New Jersey cannabis-focused law firm that would benefit from legalization, surveyed 500 registered voters that mirrored the 2016 voting electorate for the poll.
“The polling results confirmed our belief that there is overwhelming support for the creation of a regulated, adult-use cannabis marketplace in New Jersey,” John D. Fanburg, co-chair of Cannabis Law at Brach Eichler, told The Fresh Toast in a statement. “Respondents supported it because it will create tremendous opportunity. It will create vitally needed new businesses, the state will receive significant tax revenues and illegal sales will be dramatically reduced, if not eliminated.
“Voters see this as a win for everyone,” he added.
Photo by Creative-Family/Getty Images
This doesn’t mean all those voters will participate in a new legal marijuana market. The majority of respondents (57%) were not cannabis users and only 17% admitted to currently consuming the plant. Only 9% said they’d experiment with marijuana should it be legalized in the state.
Social justice was a strong component among respondents, as 68% stated all low-level marijuana criminal charges should be expunged. In addition, only 7% believe major dealers and distributors should suffer legal punishment.
According to the other co-chair of Cannabis Law at Brach Eichler, Charles X. Gormally, “The strong level of support for correcting this decades-old inequality, especially in the context of recent protests of inherent bias in law enforcement, should be well noted by our legislators who will be tasked with correcting this unfortunate consequence of the failed policy of prohibition.”
Though it may seem counterintuitive, CBD can help lower consumption among those diagnosed with cannabis use disorder.
Cannabis affects everyone differently and can create deleterious effects for some individuals. One recent study indicates 30% of marijuana consumers have some degree of cannabis use disorder.
These disorders are characterized by dependence. When a user experiences withdrawal symptoms when not using cannabis, which can include irritability, sleeping problems, and appetite fluctuations. Some research suggests 9% of marijuana users will become dependent on the plant, while other studies have found 22 million people worldwide struggle to function in their daily lives because of cannabis.
There is no established treatment for cannabis use disorder, but a new first-of-its-kind study provides answers. In an ironic twist, the non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD) can help lower marijuana consumption in dependent users. Previous research has shown this possibility, but this is the first double-blind, placebo-controlled study to explore the concept in a rigorous scientific setting.
Published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry, researchers recruited 82 participants motivated to quit marijuana but had struggled on their own in the past. Subjects, all diagnosed with cannabis use disorder, were then given three varying amounts of medical-grade CBD or a placebo in the first stage of the trial. Researchers discovered 200mg of CBD was ineffective and so only administered 400mg and 800mg doses in the second trial.
By the end of the study, researchers reported conclusive evidence that 400mg or 800mg CBD doses outperformed the CBD in helping decrease marijuana use. It’s worth noting that prescription-grade CBD, as used in the study, can be up to 16 times stronger than commercially available CBD.
Photo by Tinnakorn Jorruang/EyeEm/Getty Images
“The results from our trial open up a novel therapeutic strategy for managing problematic cannabis use in clinical settings,” lead author Dr. Tom Freeman said. “As we highlight, CBD at daily oral doses of 400mg and 800mg has potential to address the substantial and currently unmet clinical need for a pharmacological treatment of cannabis use disorders.”
There were no reported side effects to using CBD compared to the placebo, researchers noted. Senior author Professor Valerie Curran added that higher doses of prescription-level CBD were unlikely to produce any additional benefit to patients.
“Whilst it may seem counterintuitive to treat problematic cannabis use with CBD—a constituent part of the cannabis plant—THC and CBD have contrasting effects on our own endogenous cannabinoid system,” Freeman said. “Unlike THC, CBD does not produce intoxicating or rewarding effects and it shows potential for a treating several other medical disorders.”
The most pressing issue is the treatment of foods and dietary supplements, which are common in the marketplace but are allegedly prohibited by the FDA.
This is the first post in a two-part series.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submitted a CBD enforcement policy to the White House. We do not yet have the text of that document but we anticipate that it will have a significant impact on hemp-derived CBD (Hemp CBD) products.
In anticipation of the release of the FDA’s CBD enforcement policy, we wanted to cover the FDA’s current position on Hemp CBD, which is summarized in the following graphic:
As you can see, the FDA has some things to address. The most pressing issue is the treatment of foods and dietary supplements, which are common in the marketplace but are allegedly prohibited by the FDA. The FDA has done very little to actually prevent the sale of Hemp CBD in food and dietary supplements. It also has not provided any interim guidance on processing hemp into cosmetics, foods, dietary supplements, or smokable products.
What the FDA has done instead is send warning letters about Hemp CBD products of all types (not just food and dietary supplements) that are marketed as drugs based on the use of health or medical claims. The FDA also recently released guidance on how drug manufacturers (i.e., those who knowingly are making drugs not other products that are then marketed as drugs) can research cannabis derivates.
One feature of the FDA drug guidance that could show up in the FDA enforcement guidance submitted to the White House is the instruction on how to measure THC in hemp products. As indicated in the above graphic (with a test tube icon) there are not well-established testing standards for hemp products. The 2018 Farm Bill and USDA cover the testing of hemp during the cultivation stage but not the testing of hemp derivatives during the processing stage or hemp products sold in commerce. In part two of this series, I’ll discuss the issue of testing Hemp CBD products.
A new study that surveyed over 11,000 couples found that the best predictor for relationship success is the relationship itself.
Dating apps are a thriving business. While Tinder and Bumble rely on looks proximity, apps like OkCupid and Eharmony rely on quizzes and matchmaking, partnering you up with someone you have stuff in common with in hopes of producing a long lasting relationship. A new study, however, suggests that these impulses might be wrong. What is the most important facto to relationship success?
The study analyzed over 43 different studies conducted on relationships and found that what matters most when it comes to relationship success is the relationship itself, not each person’s individuality.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, contains results from over 11,000 couples, who were interviewed at least twice at different times, mapping out the traits that make up a romantic relationship. Researchers split these traits up into two groups: individual characteristics and relationship characteristics.
While traits from both groups were important, relationship characteristics, like perceived partner commitment, appreciation and sexual satisfaction, were the most important for determining a relationship’s success.
“The dynamic that you build with someone — the shared norms, the in-jokes, the shared experiences — is so much more than the separate individuals who make up that relationship,” Samantha Joel, study author and director of the Relationships Decision Lab at Western University, told Inverse.
While individual characteristics are important, since they will impact the relationship itself and whether two people enjoy each other’s company, this study shows a new way of viewing relationships. Instead of apps, and media directing our focus towards “the one,” results like this could help us see the bigger picture. No matter your partner’s quirks and annoying habits, as long as the relationship provides you with happiness, support and fulfillment, then it’s likely a successful one.
Cats, much like dogs and humans, are also equipped with an endocannabinoid system. Can they experience the benefits of CBD?
From beauty stores to pet stores, CBD products are everywhere. Animals, like us, are equipped with an endocannabinoid system, leading researchers and businesses to believe that they can also experience the benefits that we experience when consuming CBD.
According to some brands, when it comes to CBD’s effect on cats, the compound can help them relax, provide pain relief, reduce aggression and help them manage their stress. But how accurate are these statements?
Many CBD brands claim that their products can provide relief for cats suffering from different kinds of ailments, especially once they’re seniors and facing conditions like arthritis, which can influence their behaviors and cause them to become anxious.
Changes in environments, like the ones produced by the pandemic where suddenly people are spending more time at home or moving households, can also affect cats’ behaviors; their anxiety and stress might be expressed through poor grooming and eating habits. CBD’s anti-inflammatory and stress relieving properties might be a good option for treating these symptoms without causing meaningful side effects.
Photo by Marta Markes via Unsplash
Information available on CBD and cats is preliminary. While there have been some studies that found correlations between CBD and less pain, stress and anxiety, veterinarians don’t have all of the answers. Depending on who you’re asking, you might get totally different responses and levels of excitement regarding CBD products for pets.
“Research on the use of things like CBD is still in its infancy despite the very promising anecdotes and affirmative marketing seen in media today,” said Christian Kjaer, CEO of ElleVet Sciences.
The journal Animals published a study in 2019 that found no negative side effects associated with CBD use in dogs and humans, however, cats did experience some behavioral changes, including excess licking and head shaking. “Dosing of CBD can be different among different species, but also each individual animal depending on what we are trying to support,” said Kjaer.
Cats are smaller than dogs, meaning that CBD dosage may play an even more important role than the one it plays for other species. When using CBD on your pets, it pays to be careful; before you give your cat any products, be sure to talk to your vet and figure out all of your options.
It is no surprise Americans are seeking ways to improve health and reduce any risk of disease — whether that comes in the form of the coronavirus or not. According to new research, one of the simplest hacks to lower your chance of getting sick is consuming more plant proteins and an overall plant-based diet.
A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine documented the eating habits and health reports of more than 400,000 people across 16 years. The study’s authors found that a great plant protein intake lower mortality rates in men and women by 12-14%. Furthermore, replacing just 3% of animal protein with plant protein decreased overall mortality in both sexes by 10%.
Researchers concluded the most dramatic improvements in health came from replacing red meat and egg proteins with plant proteins.
“Findings from this and previous studies provide evidence that dietary modifications in choice of protein sources may promote health and longevity,” the study’s authors wrote.
Photo by surajith s via Pexels
Speaking of previous studies, the Journal of the American College of Nutritionpublished a lengthy editorial summarizing prior research on the health benefits of consuming more plant proteins. Some studies found a plant-based diet could lower risk of contracting type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer by around 50%. “Proper nutrition may help prevent almost half of cardiometabolic deaths in the United States,” the editorial reads.
“Adopting a healthful diet and lifestyle is a powerful tool which may delay the aging process, decrease age-associated co-morbidities and mortality, and increase life expectancy,” the review’s authors added. “This strategy represents the most cost-effective approach, and should be incorporated in everyday practice.”
Hana Kahleova was a co-author of the editorial and serves as the director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She told Inverse that maintaining a plant-based diet can help manage chronic diseases, which can be made worse by COVID-19.
Said Kahleova, “More than ever, it’s important that we keep our bodies as healthy as we possibly can.”
Democrats will not become the party for cannabis advocates, despite two-thirds of Americans supporting full legalization.
The Democratic party will not stand behind cannabis legalization as an official party platform. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) rejected an amendment proposal to support legalizing cannabis at the federal level. DNC delegates voted 106-50 against the amendment, with three delegates abstaining from voting. It is official, Democrats reject marijuana legalization on party platform.
The DNC will instead adopt similar language used by the party’s presidential nominee, Joe Biden; decriminalization and leaving recreational cannabis up to the states will remain the DNC platform position.
“Democrats will decriminalize marijuana use and reschedule it through executive action on the federal level,” the draft platform reads. “We will support legalization of medical marijuana, and believe states should be able to make their own decisions about recreational use. The Justice Department should not launch federal prosecutions of conduct that is legal at the state level. All past criminal convictions for cannabis use should be automatically expunged.”
A task force formed by Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders expressed a similar recommendation earlier this month. Some cannabis advocates hoped Sanders, a well-known supporters of federal legalization, would push Biden on marijuana reform. That did not happen, and Biden appears determined not to change from this position.
Photo by adamkaz/Getty Images
Dennis Obduskey was the DNC delegate from Colorado who initially proposed the amendment. He linked cannabis legalization through criminal justice reform, an idea gaining momentum in political circles.
“We cannot ignore the fact that the current marijuana criminalization policy has in too many cases been used to target people of color,” Obduskey said in a virtual DNC meeting. “They are unfairly and disproportionately six times more likely to be arrested than other citizens.”
The DNC will vote on its official platform during next month’s Democratic National Convention. It is expected to take place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The communal experience of cannabis, something that has always been closely linked to joints and vapes, has now been put on an indefinite pause. Edibles to the rescue!
Predictions about marijuana use during the pandemic abounded. Once businesses and buildings started to close, different states declared that cannabis is an essential business. People rightly assumed that times of stress are great times to get high, whether consumers were seasoned cannabis users or not.
Opinions varied when discussing inhaled cannabis and its impact on the pandemic. While some people claimed that joints would be discarded due to the lung irritations they could produce, others said that vapes would be making a comeback, even if they struggled throughout 2019 with a mysterious lung illness.
“As restrictions are lifted, we expect a pent-up demand for cannabis products that can be conveniently used in conjunction with outdoor activities,” Tom Brooksher, CEO of Clear Cannabis, told Forbes.
Edibles are a whole different situation. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Cali Manzello of medical marijuana dispensary Apothecarium, said that she noticed a change in orders the minute the pandemic hit. “One of the first orders that printed out from the pickup machine said 25 packages of this gummy on it. And we all kind of giggled. We were like, ‘Ooh boy, here it goes. It’s starting.’ It did not stop. People were ordering, you know, up to the legal limit, which can be up to 80 edibles in some cases.”
The consumption of edibles has been growing over the past several years, with people choosing them for their discretion and the fact that they don’t harm your lungs.
Photo by Jonathan J. Castellon via Unsplash
This increase in edible use sparked by the pandemic could have a hundred different explanations. People could be trying to look out for their health or could be living in cramped situations where they don’t feel like bothering roommates or family members with their smoke. There’s also the fact that the communal experience of cannabis, something that has always been closely linked to joints and vapes, has now been put on an indefinite pause.
“Passing around a tin of gummies is going to be much more acceptable than passing around a joint or a vape pen,” says Lauren Gockley, director of Coda Signature infused edibles.
At the start of the pandemic, people were panic buying marijuana, stocking up on flower, vapes and edibles for the expected month or two of lockdown. Now that we know that the virus is here to stay, and that we’ll be spending much more time at home, it seems like people are shifting their perspectives and embracing cannabis in new ways.
A new report found that price was the second biggest factor for consumers when making CBD purchase decisions.
The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing hemp sparked a CBD rush with millions in sales and seemingly everyone starting a company using some form of hemp-derived cannabis oil. Last year’s BDSA and Arcview Market Research, industry report estimated that CBD sales in the U.S. would surpass $20 billion by 2024. New York-based investment bank Cowen & Co forecast that the market would hit $15 billion by 2025.
A new report from the Brightfield Group, “US CBD Market July 2020“, warns those numbers will be much lower as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on shoppers. Several reasons are behind the drop in sales from lockdowns causing brick and mortar store closures, to shifts in retailers making deliveries and even the job crisis that is hurting consumers’ wallets. The report stated that in 2020, the US hemp-derived CBD market is projected to reach $4.7 billion in sales, with 14% growth from 2019 sales of $4.1 billion. The market had been expected to grow by over 30%.
Stay At Home
One big problem for CBD shoppers was the request from states with big outbreaks to stay at home and only venture out if absolutely necessary. The report noted that there would be a loss of revenue from store closures as many retailers selling CBD products had either closed temporarily during the crisis or were only offering curbside pickup and delivery. “Even for CBD specialist retailers and smoke shops that remain open, they are experiencing steep declines in sales as social distancing guidelines and consumer worries about contracting the coronavirus keep shoppers at home.” That meant more online shopping, which worked well for established brands.
Nearly half (45%) of CBD consumers surveyed in June 2020 by Brightfield said they moved their CBD purchases online because of the coronavirus crisis. “Millennial shoppers are the most likely to have switched to e-commerce for their CBD needs, with 54% reporting switching from brick and mortar stores to online as they also increase their
usage and spending during this stressful time. CBD market leaders have seen online sales increase dramatically in the first half of 2020 but are still making efforts to expand in brick and mortar retailers to set up for future success and broader brand awareness.”
Brightfield said well-known and trusted brands that already had a strong DTC (direct-to-consumer) model already established benefited from the online move. “New CBD companies though found it difficult to enter retail channels as in-person sales calls have been paused and major trade shows such as Natural Products Expo West and NoCo Hemp Expo had been canceled.”
Photo by pcess609/Getty Images
No Job, No Money
Anyone who has purchased quality CBD products knows they don’t come cheap. “With Americans facing high unemployment levels (11.1% in June 2020 compared to 3.8% in February 2020) year 2020 retail sales are not expected to reach levels anticipated prior to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Over 30 million Americans were receiving unemployment benefits as of July 14, 2020. The report also said that high unemployment rates and a reduction in disposable income are causing prices to fall in the US CBD industry sparking a domino effect felt at the beginning of the hemp chain. Hemp farmers have seen the price of their crops drop sharply due to the increase in supply. According to data from Hemp Benchmarks, the aggregate assessed price for hemp CBD biomass declined by 79% from April 2019 to April 2020, from $38.00 per pound to $8.10 per pound.
Ultimately the prices will fall for consumers as producers adjust their models accordingly. Brightfield also found that price was the second biggest factor for consumers when making CBD purchase decisions. Consumers are really trying to make sure they can buy the most effective CBD product for the best price.
So Stressed
Without a doubt, this has been a stressful time for many. The pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests and continuing climate change worries are causing an increase in consumption of CBD. Heavy users have increased their consumption. “Anxiety is the number one ailment of CBD users, with 42% of them reporting it,” according to Brightfield Group’s consumer insights. “Depression and insomnia, which are likely to rise over the coming months, rank second and sixth.”
In a Brightfield Group survey of 5,000, CBD consumers fielded online from June 2 to 24, 2020, 39% stated that they are using more CBD as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. “This sentiment was even higher among Millennials and Gen Z consumers — 47% plan on using more CBD in the months to come. Younger consumers are more likely to increase their CBD usage in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of Millennials (51%) and 48% of Gen Z have upped their CBD usage frequency, compared to only 40% of Gen-X and 17% of Boomers.”
Consumers are choosing higher dosages and pivoting away from vapes and more towards edibles. COVID-19 has been especially hard on respiratory systems. While CBD companies can’t say their products should be used to fight COVID-19, many consumers want to boost their immunity and feel CBD is one way to accomplish this.
