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Optimism In Cannabis Investing Exists — Even Amid A Global Pandemic

Brendan Bures
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Optimism In Cannabis Investing Exists — Even Amid A Global Pandemic

Growth opportunities remain in cannabis, but it requires creativity, enterprise and knowledge, according to top investors.

Take this for an investing conundrum: Where do you put your money in an industry with enormous upside but where many companies don’t yet make profits? An industry where some states consider it “essential business” but the country considers its product illegal? Or an industry where the illicit market is potentially three times bigger than legal sales?

Welcome to cannabis investing, where massive potential and heartbreak live side by side. But opportunity does exist for savvy players, even amid a global pandemic that threatens practically every American business sector.

“The industry has found itself pandemic-resistant as cannabis has been treated as an essential business allowing dispensaries to remain open and, in many cases, showing record sales during this tough period,” David Feldman, a partner at Hiller P.C., a global law firm, told The Fresh Toast. “That said, most companies in the industry are not yet at break-even, and raising money remains a major challenge, as it has for about a year.”

Now could be the best time to invest in cannabis but maybe not stocks, says Andrew Laub, CEO of Keneh Ventures, a private equity company that specializes in ancillary cannabis companies.

“In the short term, it is a good investment because we are seeing discounts we have never seen,” Laub told The Fresh Toast. “And you may not see them six months from now, if things turn around in the world. There are a lot of opportunities out there right now in cannabis. It’s just being able to find the right ones.”

In Laub’s opinion, that means staying away from publicly traded companies as he describes many cannabis stocks as overvalued. While the handful of companies that are cash flow positive likely will continue their growth, Feldman adds, the majority that relied on capital influxes could continue to struggle.

RELATED: How The Coronavirus Is Impacting The Cannabis Industry

He is not alone in that belief. Vivien Azer serves as senior analyst at Cowen Group and focuses on the cannabis, tobacco, and beverage sector. If her name sounds familiar, she was the first Wall Street analyst to cover the cannabis industry and her opinion holds considerable sway as a result. “Looking forward,” her team recently wrote in an cannabis equity research update, “much work and change still needs to occur in order for this industry to realize its full potential.”

5 cannabis investor conferences worth attending in 2019
Photo by Aleksandr_Kravtsov/Getty Images

That, however, does not mean you can’t make money in cannabis. Laub characterizes data and technology as huge right now. Places that appear to be an obvious stay-away at the moment might actually represent the biggest growth opportunities, like commercial real estate for cannabis companies.

“Real estate stinks right now, especially in commercial,” Laub says. “No one’s paying their rent. Retail is probably horrible. That might be an opportunity to buy some right now. Because it’s going to eventually come back, though it depends on the area.”

Laub adds, “So it’s a twofold question that you have because sometimes it’s something that doesn’t look good right now might be a buying opportunity because you could get an amazing discount.”

RELATED: Are Cannabis Stocks Worth Buying Right Now?

Optimism still abounds in cannabis investing, in other words. It just depends on who you ask. Brenda S. Smith, for example, is the Managing Partner of CB Capital Concierge, a capital markets and strategy advisor to the legal cannabis industry. She envisions cannabis as an entity as ubiquitous as the internet or beer, which might be why seizing opportunity where it exists is so important at the moment.

“In the not-too-distant future, cannabis will evolve beyond today as discrete product offering or unique supply chains and distribution channels to become integrated into mainstream industry,” Smith told The Fresh Toast. “Pharma and nutriceuticals will apply it for medicine and health, cars will use the strength of hemp in durable chassis, bars and clubs will offer it as alternatives, et cetera. And if we look far enough down the road, we’ll see cannabis as an ingredient of every industry.”

FDA Reissues Emergency Use Authorizations Regarding Respirators

Kate-Madonna Hindes
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FDA Reissues Emergency Use Authorizations Regarding Respirators

The FDA has issued revisions on which units can be decontaminated for reuse, and updated earlier recommendations made by the agency.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued multiple emergency use authorizations (EUAs) regarding the regular decontamination for reuse of certain respirators. Due to the available respirator shortages, these revised recommendations are essential. The FDA recommendations are made based on both the design and performance (including efficacy) of these respirators. 

Based on the FDA’s increased understanding of these respirators’ performance and design, the FDA has decided that certain respirators should not be decontaminated for reuse by health care personnel. For example, the FDA has learned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) testing that authorized respirators manufactured in China may vary in their design and performance. 

These assessments are not a part of the NIOSH respirator approval process and will in no way lead to or preclude NIOSH approval through the official agency approval process. The products were tested using a NIOSH-standard testing procedure, and the units did not have certificates of approval included with the groups checked.   

RELATED:  FDA Publishes New Updates For Healthcare Professionals

The FDA is also revising relevant EUAs to authorize reuse of respirators that have exhalation valves. The tests conducted by the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL), a unit of NIOSH, provided more details and information. In the June 19 update, the NPPTL indicated it had tested particulate filter efficiency for the respirators.  These tests are essential to support the availability of respiratory protection to U.S. healthcare workers and other workers due to the respirator shortage associated with COVID-19. 

why cannabis related er visit are on the rise
Photo by paulbr75 via Pixabay

The FDA has accordingly issued revisions on which units can be decontaminated for reuse, and updated earlier recommendations made by the agency. According to the CDC’s recommendations, decontaminated respirators should only be used when new FDA-cleared N95 respirators, NIOSH-approved N95 respirators, or other FDA authorized respirators are not accessible for patients. The decontamination systems are only authorized to decontaminate non-cellulose compatible N95 respirators. 

RELATED: FDA Authorizes First Next Generation Sequencing Test For Diagnosing COVID-19

Multiple decontamination systems have been added to the list. These are units that are no longer issued to allow the decontamination of ventilator units manufactured in China. Even within the context of ventilator shortages, the agency advised against the decontamination of non-cellulose respirators in equipment, where they do not have an exhalation valve that is authorized. 

This latest information is designed to safeguard against the import of non-NIOSH approved respirators to ensure adequate protection for all health care professionals. The FDA and NIOSH have approved the decontamination systems that are authorized are only for non-cellulose compatible N95 respirators.

Is Legal Marijuana Creating More Junk Food Junkies

Mike Adams
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Is Legal Marijuana Creating More Junk Food Junkies

One of the reasons cannabis consumers often gravitate toward junk food is because weed “hijacks the parts of your brain that make you seek pleasure,” according to one dietician.

“Wellness” is the latest buzzword in town when it comes to the marijuana-munchie movement. The cannabis community wants America to know, or at least it wants it to think, that instead of scarfing down fast food and Little Debbies whenever it comes time to tame the ravenous appetite that often comes with getting high, they are grabbing fruits and vegetables instead. It’s all part of the new-and-improved stoner image 2.0. But are marijuana users really opting for healthier food choices when those high hunger pangs set in? Maybe, but then again, maybe not.

If we look at some of the latest research on the matter, it is easy to see that all of this talk about wellness, healthier munchies and the brand-spanking new pulse of the lifted lifestyle might not be real.

A 2015 study published in the journal Social Science Research Network finds that junk food sales have increased by around 2% in states where marijuana is legal. Of course, this is not a huge uptick or anything, especially when compared to the 1.3% increase in areas of prohibition. But it does show that high fat, sugary foods still have a shot at becoming a stoner staple in areas of the United States where marijuana consumption is now part of normal society.

The munchies is one of the most popular side effects of cannabis. Dietary experts, like Debbie Petitpain, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, said the reason cannabis consumers often gravitate toward junk food is because weed “hijacks the parts of your brain that make you seek pleasure.” In turn, these people are more likely to grab salty and sweet snacks to satisfy high hunger.

It also doesn’t help matters that marijuana causes a heightened sense of smell and taste. This only compounds the plate-punishing destruction, encouraging high timers to eat more, Petitpain said in an interview with the Boston Herald.

RELATED: Here’s Why Food Tastes Better When You Have The Munchies

Other studies on the subject of the marijuana munchies show that, in spite of all the jibber-jabber about health and wellness in the cannabis community, most cannabis users still want junk food when they are stoned.

50 doughnuts
Photo by BootstrapGiver via Pixabay

Researchers from the University of Buffalo found that two-thirds of marijuana users are still going to pick junk food when given a choice between that and a healthier option. They are concerned about the nutritional impact widespread marijuana legalization is going to have on the population.

 RELATED: How To Control The Marijuana Munchies

“Given the dramatic increase in the accessibility of cannabis, there will be many more people experiencing the munchies,” said lead study author Jessica Kruger. “Public health has the responsibility of protecting the public, maximizing benefits and minimizing harm in any area. “We need more research and education on people who choose to use cannabis, moving public health from an abstinence-promotion model to a harm reduction model. This would include managing the dietary impact of cannabis use.”

But marijuana users must take responsibility for their own diet. And it’s not like people weren’t consuming junk food with rabid enthusiasm before weed started going legal across the country. The American population, stoned or otherwise, has been on the fast track to fat ass for decades. More than one-third of the U.S. population is now obese. Still, in some ways, the situation is improving. The wellness trend is gaining momentum worldwide, forcing more food companies to offer healthier selections on their menus.

But, as with anything, it’s up to the individual to decide which way to go.

CBD Mouthwash As Effective As Prescription

Brendan Bures
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0
CBD Mouthwash As Effective As Prescription

A new study reports cannabinoid-infused mouthwashes outperformed over-the-counter products and was rated safer for everyday use.

Time to spit out your over-the-counter mouthwash. According to a new industry-sponsored study, CBD-infused mouthwash was just as effective at killing oral bacteria and offered “a much safer, efficient and natural alternative to alcohol and/or fluoride containing mouthwashes.” CBD-infused mouthwashes also performed better at killing bacteria than two popular OTC products.

Researchers drew sharp comparison between CBD-infused mouthwashes and those that use chlorhexidine, an active ingredient in many prescription-strength mouthwashes. Though effective, chlorhexidine includes some common, undesired side effects like teeth staining, taste loss, and increase of tartar on teeth. Patients shouldn’t use prescription mouthwash daily for this reason, researchers noted.

On the flip side, CBD-infused mouthwashes were found to “demonstrate the potential of cannabinoids in developing efficient and safer mouthwash products and next generation oral care products.”

RELATED: Oral Health And Weed: Could Marijuana Prevent Cavities?

The study was peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Cannabis Research. But you should know the study was evaluating oral products from CannIBite, a Belgium company developing oral products with non-psychoactive cannabis compounds (without THC, in other words). Not only were company’s products exclusively used, CannIBite constructed and provided funding for the study. Veronica Stahl, CannIBite’s founder, was also one of the study’s two authors, as Marijuana Moment noted.

The Truth About CBD And The Coronavirus Pandemic
Photo by chriss_ns/Getty Images

“Most of the reported studies show chlorhexidine containing mouthwash as the most effective mouthwash, however tooth staining is an unacceptable side effect of chlorhexidine,” Stahl and her co-author wrote, adding, “CannIBite mouthwash products with cannabinoids infusion offer a safer and effective alternative without any fluorides or alcohol.”

RELATED: What You Should Know About CBD And Oral Health

Mouthwashes eliminate bacteria buildup in your mouth that can eventually cause plaque and gingivitis. Researchers wrote that chlorhexidine mouthwash represent the gold standard and often given to patients with periodontal disease. But in the study, the gold standard was tested against four other mouthwashes. Two were CannIBite products — a CBD solution with spearmint oil and another with CBG and spearmint oil — as well as two common OTC products.

The mouthwashes were tested on plaque samples from 72 adults that were then grown in a lab. The two CannIBite mouthwashes performed as well as the prescription mouthwash at inhibiting bacteria growth. Researchers found the two OTC mouthwashes were barely effective.

Circle K Closer To Selling Weed

Debra Borchardt
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Circle K Closer To Selling Weed

Products for adults over 21 are already sold in the convenience store model, so adding cannabis to the mix isn’t a stretch as long as the product is fully legal.

The relationship between Fire & Flower Inc.  (OTCQX: FFLWF) and its strategic investor Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (OTC: ANCUF) had signaled that someday the convenience store chain Circle K would get involved with cannabis. It seems the day is getting closer as Fire & Flower announced the openings of its first two cannabis retail stores adjacent to Circle K locations in the province of Alberta.

Fire & Flower’s plan is that it will gain from the high traffic at these Circle K locations that will be convenient for cannabis customers. The company said it believes it will maximize the benefit of the Spark Perks program and Spark Fastlane online ordering services at conveniently located stores.

“As we continue to build our relationship with Alimentation Couche-Tard, Fire & Flower is very pleased to be embarking on this initiative together,” shared Trevor Fencott, Chief Executive Officer of Fire & Flower. “We believe that combining convenient pickup locations with digital engagement offered by the Hifyre platform and Spark Perks program presents our customers with a differentiated value proposition in an increasingly competitive cannabis retail market. This approach to innovation in omnichannel and convenience-oriented cannabis retail differentiates Fire & Flower and positions us well to capitalize on both domestic and international opportunities.”

The company said the two stores in Calgary and Grande Prairie are expected to be the first of additional opportunities to co-locate cannabis retail stores in the future. The statement said that the co-located stores will be owned and operated by Fire & Flower and are separate from the adjacent Circle K in accordance with all applicable regulations. Alimentation Couche-Tarde said it has set its sights on the global expansion as new cannabis markets emerge.

RELATED: Could Convenience Stores One Day Sell Cannabis?

In August 2019, Fire & Flower closed a strategic investment by Alimentation Couche-Tard. The company noted in its filing statement that this transaction allowed for Couche-Tard to obtain a controlling interest and provides more than $380 million of growth capital for global expansion. It provided significant, new possible commercialization and leadership opportunities for Fire & Flower’s proprietary Hifyre digital platform and access to Couche-Tard’s leadership team.

canadians not happy with execessive plastic packaging of marijuana products
Photo by Sonya Yruel/Drug Policy Alliance

Convenience Stores

It has been argued that if cannabis is rescheduled and treated like alcohol or tobacco, cannabis products could end up in convenience stores. Products for adults over 21, like alcohol and tobacco, are already sold in the convenience store model, so adding cannabis to the mix isn’t a stretch as long as the product is fully legal. A few cannabis companies had already begun to establish such relationships, if mostly behind closed doors.

RELATED: Consumers Draw The Line At Where Cannabis Is Sold

The cannabis industry doesn’t want to discuss such an outcome as it would destroy the need for dispensaries. Plus, convenience stores typically only carry products from a small group of very connected consumer package goods companies. A look at the beer offerings demonstrates that only a handful of choices are offered. These beers, not necessarily considered the best the industry has to offer, are sold at high volumes.

This is the fear for many in the cannabis industry. The convenience stores may only carry a few big-name brands that may not be the best cannabis, but is scalable cannabis. The winners of all this volume business will only be the ones picked by the convenience store chain. Cannabis brands will have to decide if they want to be a craft business or a volume business like Budweisers.

This article originally appeared on Green Market Report.

Ask Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley: ‘I Hate Splitting The Check’

Thomas P. Farley
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Ask Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley: ‘I Hate Splitting The Check’

Help! My friends expect me to split the restaurant bill even though I always order way less than they do. How do I approach this without looking like a cheapskate?

Etiquette tips on how to interact in today’s world. Have a question for Mister Manners? Send your queries to info@whatmannersmost.com and look for replies in the coming weeks. 

READY TO SPLIT UP

Q: As restaurants in my state have started to reopen, I’m looking forward to dining out with many of my closest friends — but also wary. More than COVID-19, I’m concerned that their old habits will be back, ordering multiple cocktails and expensive dishes. Good for them, but they always presume we’ll split the check evenly despite the fact that I don’t drink, and usually order just a soup or a salad. How can I get them to see the injustice in this arrangement without looking like a cheapskate? 

A: If I had a dollar for every time I receive this question, I could treat all of you to dinner for a year. It’s an issue that gives us much to chew on, for sure. In the ideal world, when a group dines out on a regular basis, any imbalance that favors your friends one time is righted by an imbalance that favors you the next time. In your scenario, however, the disproportion never adjusts, and—lucky you—you have the ongoing privilege of subsidizing your friends’  food and bar tabs.

In keeping with the currency theme, there are two sides to this coin. 

In one respect, maintaining a running tally of how much each diner has ordered is tedious and can appear petty. It’s also inefficient. With the bulk of pricey dinners being paid for with plastic, “Split it five ways” is far easier for a server than “Put $56 on the green card; $32 on the blue card; $15 on the other blue card….”

RELATED: Ask Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley: Help! I’m Karen — Not A ‘Karen’

And yet, you should not be taking a permanent hit to your wallet for the sake of a server’s convenience—or due to your friends’ lack of thoughtfulness.

As with any good restaurant menu, you have several options. One possibility is that you order last, selecting a meal and number of courses that more closely approximate what everyone else has chosen. But you may be watching your diet (or your wallet), in which case you’ll still order less than everyone else. If this is the more likely scenario, I advise you to have an advance word with whomever in the group is your closest friend. Ask them to speak up on your behalf when the check arrives, urging everyone to chip in a higher dollar amount and you, a lower one. Ideally, you should put in cash for your portion, which will come off the total before it is split evenly by everyone else. Just be sure not to undercalculate your share. Round up, and don’t neglect tax and tip.

RELATED: Ask Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley: ‘Alexa Is Not A Person, Right?’

This should help settle the score (and the tab), but if not, it may be time to forego dining with these oblivious epicures and find a set of compatriots whose ordering habits more closely match your own.

Instagram Kits
Photo by Free-Photos via Pixabay

WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE?

Q: Do I need to follow a friend back on Instagram even if what she posts is boring to me?

A: Giving your friend a boost on social media costs you nothing. And if you can’t bear a tedious post popping up in your feed every now and again, what does that say about your ability to listen to her stories in person? In the realm of the thoughtful gestures we do for our friends, a “follow” is about as low a bar as you’ll encounter. As the Nike slogan advises, just do it.

Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley, is a nationally regarded expert who appears regularly in the media to discuss modern-day etiquette dilemmas — from how to split a check fairly to how to get a word in edgewise. Follow Thomas on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And for more insights, listen to his brand-new podcast, “What Manners Most,” which will be focused exclusively on Coronavirus-related etiquette for the foreseeable future.

Older Marijuana Consumers Tend To Be Healthy

Maria Loreto
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Older Marijuana Consumers Tend To Be Healthy

A study suggests Americans over the age of 60 show a connection between marijuana use and leading a more active lifestyle.

The lazy stoner stereotype is one of the most prevalent ones when it comes to marijuana use. Making appearances in movies and college, it’s a stereotype that’s meant to be funny and used by people who are older or don’t know much about the drug.

Science has shown, a few times now, that regular cannabis use doesn’t imply a sedentary lifestyle, however. Turns out that people can get high and lead active lives.

A study conducted on older Americans found that those who consumed cannabis engaged in more workouts and physical activities than non consumers. Researchers surveyed participants over a period of fourmonths, conducting an exercise intervention program. Participants who consumed cannabis had lower body mass indexes (BMI) and were more likely to commit to their workout routines when compared to other participants.

RELATED: Marijuana Use Among Seniors Is Growing Fast

“These findings suggest that it may be easier for older adults who endorse using cannabis to increase and maintain their exercise behavior, potentially because cannabis users have lower body weight than their non-using peers,” write the authors of the study. “At minimum, the evidence suggests that cannabis use does not hinder older adults’ ability to engage in physical activity, to participate in a supervised exercise program, or to increase their fitness as a result of physical activity.”

Photo by rawpixel.com

While the connection between cannabis and lower body mass indexes remains unknown, these types of studies continue to show that cannabis is more than a drug that gives people the munchies and encourages them to laze around. Anecdotal and scientific data shows that marijuana can be a helpful and motivating tool for staying active, a big issue that plagues Americans, especially those over the age of 50.

RELATED: Smoking Marijuana Before Exercises Can Increase Workout Productivity

As scientists and users of different ages and lifestyles spend more time with the drug, more information is discovered. While it’s unknown if the drug could help people work out more, studies like these are at least discouraging the spread of outdated stereotypes.

Half Baked 2 May Happen With A Catch

Brendan Bures
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Half Baked 2 May Happen With A Catch

The cult classic stoner flick will finally get a sequel more than two decades later, but is it the one Half Baked fans deserve?

Cannabis culture at large is slowly transitioning away from stoner bros and high-minded hijinks, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate and reimagine the past. Half Baked, co-written by and starring Dave Chappelle, ranks among the most cited and celebrated stoner movie of the past several decades. Rumors have long circulated a sequel was in the works, but now it looks like those rumors will become reality.

That’s because Half Baked 2 acquired a prized tax credit allocation by the California Film Commission, according to reports. Once a movie receives that tax credit, filming is supposed to begin within 180 days of the announcement. Whether or not the coronavirus pandemic affects that requirements or not remains to be seen.

Dave Chappelle Apparently Hates Sharing His Weed
Photo by Paul Morigi/Stringer/Getty Images

Back in December, comedian/director Justin Hires revealed on Instagram that he’d been selected to write the Half Baked 2 screenplay.

RELATED: Is It Okay To Experiment With Marijuana During Self-Quarantine?

“Excited to announce I’ll be writing the sequel to Half Baked,” he wrote. “Yes I know the original is a classic and yes this sequel will be [fire] because I’m writing it. Oh yeah, I write screenplays too.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B58hCqEAPVv/

Bold words. However, it’s worth remembering Half Baked was considered a flop upon its initial release. It grossed only $17.5 million on a $8 million budget and was panned by critics for its juvenile humor. Only once the movie hit cable networks and VHS tapes—yes, that’s how old the movie is—did it find the cult following has to this day.

To answer the most pressing question, Dave Chappelle will not appear in the sequel. Instead, the movie will supposedly feature his character’s son and follow his adventures around Los Angeles. Chappelle infamously loathed the movie upon release, feeling like the studio edited the movie for a younger audience than he and co-writer Neal Brennan had intended.

RELATED: 7 Movies To Watch Under Quarantine While High

“Half Baked didn’t come out the way I wanted it to come out. I was real upset about that, cause it was a real cool script,” Chappelle told James Lipton during a 2014 interview on Inside the Actors Studio. “And then I saw it, I was like, ‘Hey, man, you made a weed movie for kids’ and it wasn’t for kids, the script, you know? It was all these things and so much pressure.”

Avoiding Weed Car Search From Police

Mike Adams
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Avoiding Weed Car Search From Police

If you happen to get pulled over, prepare for a shakedown like no other. You will need to be prepared to handle police officers, or risk going to jail.

It’s true 11 states have legalized adult-use marijuana and 47 out of 50 states maintain some medical cannabis program. But make no mistake about it, weed is still mostly illegal in the United States. Here are tips on avoiding weed car search from police

We’d like to tell you that even law enforcement in areas of prohibition is turning a blind eye to those caught in possession of marijuana, but plenty of police forces on the streets of America remain eager to take you down for using this plant. This is especially true now that more jurisdictions border legal cannabis states.

The long arm of the law may not act like they are ramping up efforts to try and control interstate drug tracking, but rest assured these cops have a hard nosed plan in place to stop as many motorists as possible from bringing cannabis products into their neck of the woods. And if you happen to be one of those that they pull over, prepare for a shakedown like no other. You will need to be prepared to handle them, or else you could end up going to jail.

RELATED: How To Not Get Busted Smuggling Marijuana Into A Prohibition State

It is important to understand, first off, that police do not have the right to search your vehicle for no reason. Some people think, “Well, they’re the police, they can do what they want.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Law enforcement agencies typically need a search warrant before they can rip your vehicle apart. More importantly, they cannot size someone up during a traffic stop and conduct a search based on a gut feeling telling them that something illegal is taking place. An officer must first see or smell something that establishes probable cause before he or she can perform a search and, depending on what is discovered, make an arrest. But police just can’t go sniffing around your personal property because you had a busted tail-light.

Photo by welcomia/Getty Images

Still, they’ll try like hell to get one over on you because they know that most people aren’t aware of their rights.

One of the best methods for avoiding a search is to not give the police any reason to hassle you in the first place. So, if you and a few friends visit Colorado, where marijuana is entirely legal, and plan to drive back to Missouri with pot products onboard, it is always a smart move to obey the traffic laws. Not smoking marijuana in the vehicle during the trip is also advised. As we mentioned earlier, the odor of marijuana alone is enough in most places for a cop to search a vehicle without a warrant. Keep all drug-related items, even prescription pill bottles, out of sight. In the event of a traffic stop, we don’t want to give the officer any reason to suspect that we’re up to no good.

If you do end up getting pulled over, however, the next thing to remember is to always be calm and collected. As with any situation where one must deal with another person, being polite, courteous and respectful goes a long way. We don’t want to be ranting and raving about knowing our rights as soon as the officer shows up outside the driver’s side window. Just keep calm, but stay on your toes. Even if the cop seems nice, don’t think for a second that he’s not looking for a reason to take the traffic stop to the next level. If you’ve followed the advice from above – hiding drug paraphernalia and not smoking in the car — you should be in good shape. He shouldn’t see or smell anything suspicious. Soon, you will be on your way.

But police are notorious for asking questions in hopes of tripping people up and getting them to spill their guts about what they’ve been doing and where they’ve been. “Where you folks headed?” is one of the most common. The wrong answers could spell trouble. For example: It is probably not a good idea to tell a Kansas State trooper that you and your friend just spent a few days in Colorado to see what it was all about. Because their next question might be: “Did you guys smoke any marijuana while you were there?” Once the cop gets on the marijuana jag, there is no stopping him. So, be as vague as possible without sounding awkward. Try saying something like, “We just finished visiting some family in Boulder. It was my great grandmothers 102 birthday.” Just remember that anything you say can and will be used against you. So be careful answering questions.

Photo by why kei via Unsplash

Okay, let’s pretend you’ve done everything right, but the officer still persists in busting you for drugs. You’ll know when it’s time to get serious as soon as he utters the phrase “Are there any drugs, weapons or other contraband in the vehicle that I need to know about?” The correct answer in this situation, just in case you were wondering, is NO. But don’t expect the cop to take your word for it. He will likely follow up with something like, “Would you mind if I take a look for myself?” It is essential to understand that you have the right to refuse searches. It’s written in the 4th Amendment. So your response to his request should be: “Officer, I understand you’ve got a job to do, but I do not consent to searches.” The cop will not like this one bit. In fact, he may start playing dirty by suggesting that your refusal to a search means you are trying to hide something. Just keep cool. You are never required to let police search your vehicle just because they feel like it.

RELATED: The Surprising Effect Marijuana Legalization Has On Police Traffic Searches

The cop may step up his game at this juncture and threaten to call in the K-9 unit to sniff around. Remember, as far as the cop knows, you haven’t broken any laws. He doesn’t know that you have three ounces of weed stuffed in your suitcase. We don’t want to give him the chance to find it either. Simply ask him at this point if you are free to go. “Officer, am I being detained, or am I free to go?” He may ask again to search your vehicle. Just keep following this routine:

Cop: Can I search your vehicle?

Motorist: Officer, I do not consent to searches.

Cop: Maybe you’ve got something to hide.

Motorist: Officer, am I being detained, or am I free to go?

If you are being detained for whatever reason – the cop may suspect you of a crime — it is best to keep quiet. The last words the police should hear coming from your mouth is, “I’m going to remain silent until after I speak to a lawyer.” It might seem easier to just go along with the cop’s request and endure the harassment to get back on the road faster, but your best legal protection is always to just shut up. On the other hand, if you are free to go, the officer will let you know. When all else fails, just keep repeating the above phrases until the cop moves on to an easier target.

Troops Who Used Marijuana Get Second Chance

Brendan Bures
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Troops Who Used Marijuana Get Second Chance

A House committee approved an amendment that would allow military service members to reenlist despite previous cannabis use.

The military makes no confusion about its views on marijuana. Despite widespread legalization and rising positive marijuana drug tests for Army soldiers, military service members who confess to consuming cannabis just once are barred from re-enlisting under current law.

But late last Thursday the House Armed Services Committee approved an amendment to its $740.5 billion defense policy bill that could grant a second chance to those troops. Rep. Ruben Gallego submitted a proposal alongside the bill that would create a one-time reenlistment waiver for former service members who admitted marijuana use. Approval would be granted on a case-by-case basis under the provision.

RELATED: Enormous Tax Revenue Is Exactly Why The Feds Won’t Legalize Cannabis

“Smoking pot just once shouldn’t prevent a patriotic American from fighting for our country,” Gallego said in a release. “We need to finally exercise some common sense when it comes to our marijuana policies, and I’m glad my amendment will lead us in that direction.”

Gallego, a Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq, has submitted this proposal for the past couple years. The rider was approved in the 2019 defense spending House bill, but was removed in reconciliation with Senate defense bill.

Marijuana For Veterans
Photo by PeteMuller/Getty Images

At the time, Gallego said a conversation with a constituent inspired the provision. After studying in law school, the constituent went to reenlist in the Marine Corps and admitted to using cannabis. The recruiter told him to either lie about smoking marijuana or else forget being reenlisted.

“There’s ample evidence that the social and personal consequences are far worse for alcohol use than for marijuana use—but we wouldn’t be able to assemble even one Marine Corps regiment if we excluded everyone who’s ever had a sip of beer or whiskey,” Gallego previously said.

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Gallego’s provision is the only cannabis-related rider on the House bill, but a bipartisan group led by Sen. Diane Feinstein have their own proposal they’d like to attach to the Senate’s defense policy legislation. The amendment would institute requirements into CBD research and provide protections for doctors who discuss cannabis treatment with their patients. It is unclear whether the amendment will make it onto the Senate floor for further discussion or not.

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