How To Buy Medical Cannabis In A Legal State

Mary Sauer

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July 9, 2020

How To Buy Medical Cannabis In A Legal State

Start by visiting government websites, like the Department of Health and Senior Services. There you will find lists of all the dispensaries that are legally operating in your state.

There are now 33 states and Washington D.C. that have legalized medical marijuana. If you live in one of these states, you can legally buy and use cannabis to address specific medical needs.

From state-to-state, you’ll find that the laws concerning medicinal use vary, like how to transport medical marijuana from place to place. One thing most states have in common, however, is the process of making a medical marijuana purchase.

No matter where you live, you’ll want to be certain that you understand the procedures that are in place. Here’s what you need to know about legally buying medical marijuana in your state.

Educate Yourself on Qualifying Conditions

Like any other medication, marijuana is only approved for medicinal use for treating specific conditions. These qualifying conditions do vary from state to state and are outline in their cannabis laws.

You will see common threads across the country. Chronic pain, terminal illness, cancer, and PTSD are all common qualifying conditions for medical marijuana. Even so, you’ll still want to double-check to be certain your condition is on the list before you move forward.

Get Authorized by a Doctor

Before applying for a medical marijuana ID card, you’ll need to visit a doctor to get a recommendation. In some states, only doctors who are licensed to recommend medical weed can authorize patients to apply for a medical ID card. Once you have gotten their thumbs up, you’ll apply for your ID through the department in your state regulating medical cannabis.

5 questions you should ask yourself before visiting a marijuana dispensary — Photo by A_Melnyk/Getty Images

Visit a Dispensary

Once you’re registered as a medical marijuana patient, you’re ready to make a purchase. You should be able to find what you need at one of the dispensaries your state has licensed. Start by visiting government websites, like the cannabis portal at CA.gov or the Department of Health and Senior Services. There you will find lists of all the dispensaries that are legally operating in your state.

If you live in a state where both medicinal and recreational marijuana are sold, you’ll want to differentiate between dispensaries. Some will specialize in medical cannabis while others are more suited for recreational users.

It might take a few tries to find the right fit based on what is available at each location. You can do a little research beforehand by looking for reviews of specific dispensaries online before you head into the storefront. Once you’ve found a good fit, take your time talking with the staff working at the dispensary to find out what products will best suit your medical needs, your lifestyle, and your budget.

4 Tips To Help You Make The Most Of Your CBD

Maria Loreto

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July 9, 2020

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4 Tips To Help You Make The Most Of Your CBD

CBD is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. Here are some ways to help improve your experience with the compound.

It’s understatement to say that CBD is a fast growing industry. Despite its popularity and widespread use, CBD is a compound that varies in effect depending on the person. It’s also a compound that’s shrouded in misinformation and that lacks scientific research. A survey from last year found that 60% of respondents didn’t even know what CBD was.

The scientific studies that have been conducted on CBD show that it holds some promise for treating different kinds of conditions, from treating mental health to targeting physical aches and pains. In short, just because the compound needs more research, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give it a shot.

Here are 4 things you can do to make the most of your CBD.

Keep a schedule

setting a schedule can make you less productive — Photo by rawpixel.com

CBD produces a stronger effect the more you use it. The compound builds up in your system and makes you more sensitive to it, meaning that, over time, smaller doses of CBD can produce stronger effects. In order for this to happen, the compound must continue to be used, even if at first you’re experiencing no significant positive results.

Follow the instructions

Whether you purchased a tincture, oil, or lotion, you should make sure to read the product label and follow the directions. Each brand and product contains different dosages and might have different methods of consumption. Trust the brand and use as advised. To help you get started, here are 5 things you should look for when reading a CBD label.

Buy high quality products

The 2020s Will Be The Decade Of CBD — Photo by IRA_EVVA/Getty Images

Since you’re putting your trust in these products, it’s important to purchase ones that are safe and legitimate. CBD is a new and growing business that’s lacking FDA regulation. This means that a lot of companies might try to take advantage of the current moment, making products that are overpriced and that don’t do what they’re meant to do. Here’s how to find high-quality CBD oil.

Don’t be afraid to mix it up with THC

Aside from its therapeutic benefits, CBD is popular because it doesn’t get people high in the way that THC does (it’s non-psychoactive). While this allows for a more therapeutic outlook from users, the presence of THC is known to increase the benefits of CBD (it’s called the “entourage effect”). Full spectrum CBD products contain other cannabinoids in the plant, including THC. When all of these elements are present, these products tend to provide better and more effective results.

Data Suggests CBD Could Provide Treatment For COVID-19

Brendan Bures

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July 9, 2020

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Data Suggests CBD Could Provide Treatment For COVID-19

CBD anti-inflammatory properties and mental health treatment capabilities demand further investigation for coronavirus patients, according to a new study.

As researchers and doctors rush to understand the novel coronavirus, sometimes new evidence contradicts old claims. Cannabis represents a main topic where scientists have spun 180 degrees in discussing how the plant interacts with COVID-19. Public health officials announced back in March that marijuana smokers and vapers were more at risk to contract and spread the coronavirus.

Lung health experts still don’t recommend inhaling any combustible material like tobacco or marijuana, due to the inflammation caused in your airways. However, cannabis has emerged as an unlikely candidate in preventing and treating COVID-19 symptoms.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska and the Texas Biomedical Research Institute now believe CBD could reduce the lethal lung inflammation caused by COVID-19. In a peer-reviewed article published in this month’s issue of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, the researchers called for more studies into cannabinoids for their anti-viral and anti-inflammatory capabilities to combat the coronavirus.

“Acute infection is associated with a cytokine superstorm, which contributes to the symptoms of fever, cough, muscle pain,” researchers wrote. In severe cases, lung inflammation could lead to pneumonia, making it difficult to breathe for patients who already have weakened immune systems.

Researchers noted no effective therapeutic treatments have yet emerged and the few that have resulted in adverse side effects like pancreatitis and hypertriglyceridemia, which increases a patient’s risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart disease. “[All of] which make it imperative to explore effective alternative anti-inflammatory strategies.”

Researchers referenced previous studies that demonstrated the novel anti-inflammatory properties cannabis provides. An emphasis was placed on CBD’s anti-inflammatory capabilities, as it doesn’t possess the psychoactive characteristics found in THC, marijuana’s other well-known cannabinoid. THC can lead to increased heart rate, anxiety, and disorientation for some patients. CBD has also been FDA-approved for seizure reduction in patients with intractable epilepsy.

What Lung Experts Say About Coronavirus Risk To Marijuana Smokers — Photo by Robina Weermeijer via Unsplash

“Unlike THC, CBD has a high margin of safety and is well tolerated pharmacologically even after treatments of up to 1500 mg/day for two weeks in both animals and humans, which suggests its feasibility to reduce SARS-CoV2 induced lung inflammation/pathology and disease severity,” the researchers concluded.

They also added that CBD has therapeutic benefits for COVID-19 patients beyond anti-inflammatory treatment. The pandemic has caused mass uncertainty around the economy, job security, and social networks, resulting in a rise in depression, fear, and anxiety some have labeled a second pandemic. CBD has an additional therapeutic potential in this way, as a previous study suggested CBD could improve the mental health of patients suffering from the anxiety and emotional stress after recovering from Ebola.

“Like Ebola, patients recovering from COVID-19 may experience various psychological and social stressors that may be triggered by residual chronic inflammation and autoimmune reactions,” the researchers explained. “Therefore, randomized clinical trials to test the efficacy of CBD on alleviating anxiety and fear associated with COVID-19 infection and its consequences on people’s physical, social and psychological well-being may be beneficial in the future.”

Johnny Depp Gave 13-Year-Old Daughter Marijuana

Brendan Bures

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July 8, 2020

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Johnny Depp Gave 13-Year-Old Daughter Marijuana

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor said he wanted his daughter to trust him, and didn’t want her experimenting at a party.

Johnny Depp was trying to be a “responsible parent” when he gave his then 13-year-old daughter, Lily-Rose, cannabis. He knew his own supply was “trustworthy” and worried about her trying the drug at a party, and “going into some sort of paranoid tailspin.”

Depp told London courts about this incident Tuesday in his ongoing libel lawsuit against The Sun. The actor added that he reached this decision after discussing the matter with his ex-wife and Lily-Rose Depp’s mother, Vannessa Paradis. According to the UK’s Evening Standard, Depp denied “encouraging” his daughter to use cannabis.

“My daughter was 13-years-old and as we all know at 11, 12, and 13-years-old when you go to a high school party you are approached by people who will want to give you drink because they are drinking at 12 and 13, doing cocaine at 12 and 13, and smoking marijuana at 12 and 13, doing ecstasy and doing many, many drugs,” he said.

Depp told the court this all started when Lily-Rose, who is now 21, attended a party where someone passed her a joint.

“She was just 12 and she said she didn’t know what to do,” he said. “I said ‘listen sweetheart, if you are at a party and someone hands you the joint, take the joint from the person and pass it to the next person. Please don’t experiment with drugs with people you don’t know.’”

He urged his daughter not to experiment the drug in an uncontrolled environment. That’s why he presented her with the unique arrangement.

“‘Please, please, when you are really at the moment in your life when you are passed the joint and you really want to try it,’ I said, ‘please do me the honor of coming to me when you are ready and you really feel you are ready,” Depp told the courts. “‘I don’t want your first experience to be with people you don’t know, taking things you don’t know, that you don’t trust,’”

“It’s a safety issue, it’s a father worried about his daughter in this kind of situation,” he added.

johnny depp — Photo by Rich Polk/Stringer/Getty Images

Depp wanted his daughter to trust that she could come to him in these kind of situations without retribution. He didn’t want to be in a position as a parent where Lily-Rose hid things from him. This is why, after discussing with Paradis, he put forward this unique solution and gave his daughter marijuana.

“I want her to trust me. If my daughter says she was ready, she was ready. I wanted to make sure the settings were perfection, put on family TV, fill the refrigerator with ice cream, fill the freezer, make a situation where the experience is as pleasant as possible,” Depp said.

“I don’t want a 13-year-old going into some sort of paranoid tailspin. I knew the marijuana I had myself, that I smoked myself, is trustworthy and good quality.”

Depp sued The Sun for libel after the tabloid labeled him a “wife beater” in an April 2018 article. The actor admitted that cannabis does have its dangers, especially for teenagers using the drug. He also added that he had tried most drugs but not ketamine.

Said Depp, “If this is wrong in your eyes, I appreciate what you think but I was raising a daughter and I was being a responsible parent so far as I’m concerned.”

Experts Predict A Boom In Vaping Market

Maria Loreto

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July 8, 2020

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Despite COVID-19 and the illnesses associated with vaping, industry experts report that sales are doing well and are primed to do better as the year progresses.

The vaping market was on the fast track until a strange pulmonary disease appeared in 2019 and threw everyone for a loop. Then came the new year, along with COVID-19, a respiratory illness that has most government officials asking people to wear masks and maintain social distance in order to prevent the spread. With this in mind, the use of vapes and cigarettes should be fizzling out, but experts don’t think that’s the case.

While most people know that smoking harms the lungs, a lot of people are still smoking marijuana as a way to cope with the stress of the virus and long hours of boredom. Smoking marijuana may cause lung irritation and chronic bronchitis but, unlike smoking cigarettes, it’s not associated with significant abnormalities in lung functioning. While there are obvious risks, people who smoke cigarettes are the ones who are dealing more harm to their lungs, especially since this act is likely repeated several times a day.

Vaping is generally associated with less lung damage. Still, experts warn about the unknown chemicals present in the cartridges. “If you’re using a vape pen, you’re taking some chances that there’s stuff other than pure cannabis oil in that cartridge,” internal medicine specialist Erick Kaufman tells The Cut. “We should all be really protective of our respiratory tracts right now, so it’s probably not a good time to be doing any inhaling of cannabis if you can help it.”

NC Mayor Accidentally Includes Vape Pen In Social Distancing Post — Photo by Lepro/Getty Images

Despite the clear medical advice, experts in the cannabis industry believe vaping will make a comeback over the summer, one that’s even stronger than in previous years. Tom Brooksher, CEO of Clear Cannabis Inc., told Forbes that summer is traditionally a time associated with vaping. “As restrictions are lifted, we expect a pent-up demand for cannabis products that can be conveniently used in conjunction with outdoor activities,” he said.

Other experts say that the increase of stress that people are experiencing and the fact that vapes are viewed as more personal devices than joints, which are traditionally shared among friends, are also reasons why the vaping market will continue to grow as the year moves forward. “For vaping specifically, our customers reported a notable shift from typical joints to vape pens, which was largely driven by health and sanitary concerns,” explains Spherex CFO Dan Gardenswartz.

If there’s one thing we’ve come to learn over the past couple of months it’s that altering our behaviors can be difficult. Even when faced with an unprecedented threat that challenges every aspect of our lives, life goes on, and people find ways of doing what they want to do.

Optimism In Cannabis Investing Exists — Even Amid A Global Pandemic

Brendan Bures

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July 8, 2020

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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.

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.”

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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July 8, 2020

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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.

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.

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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July 8, 2020

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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.

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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July 8, 2020

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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.”

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.”

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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July 7, 2020

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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.

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.

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.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

How To Buy Medical Cannabis In A Legal State

Start by visiting government websites, like the Department of Health and Senior Services. There you will find lists of all the dispensaries that are legally operating in your state.

Educate Yourself on Qualifying Conditions

Get Authorized by a Doctor

Visit a Dispensary

4 Tips To Help You Make The Most Of Your CBD

CBD is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. Here are some ways to help improve your experience with the compound.

Keep a schedule

Follow the instructions

Buy high quality products

Don’t be afraid to mix it up with THC

Data Suggests CBD Could Provide Treatment For COVID-19

CBD anti-inflammatory properties and mental health treatment capabilities demand further investigation for coronavirus patients, according to a new study.

Johnny Depp Gave 13-Year-Old Daughter Marijuana

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor said he wanted his daughter to trust him, and didn’t want her experimenting at a party.

Experts Predict A Boom In Vaping Market

Despite COVID-19 and the illnesses associated with vaping, industry experts report that sales are doing well and are primed to do better as the year progresses.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Convenience Stores

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