Maine law states students can consume medical marijuana on campus with a prescription, which caused conflict with federal funding.
A 2019 JAMA Pediatrics analysis found that more than 1 in 4 Maine children were diagnosed with at least one mental disorder, the highest rate in the country. The state’s Department of Education announced earlier this month that the federal government will cut off funding dedicated to youth mental health program because of Maine’s medical marijuana policy.
In 2018, Maine won a five-year federal grant designed to boost social service infrastructures supporting student mental health. The grant provided the program, called Maine-AWARE, $1.1 million in annual funding. Maine received $2.2 million in the past two years and spent the money appropriately. According to the Lewiston Sun Journal, the feds informed the state’s Education Department the rest of the funding will now be cut off.
As Maine’s state commissioner of education Pender Makin wrote in an email, state law allows students to consume medical marijuana on campus if they have a medical prescription. Other states with legal medical cannabis feature similar rules. Typically, these programs, including Maine’s, exclude the use of smokable marijuana.
Makin explained the conflict in a May 6 email to a superintendent that funding for Maine AWARE had been rescinded “because of our state’s medical marijuana law, which requires schools to allow students who have written certification from their medical provider indicating their need for medical marijuana to receive such treatment while at school.”
Photo by jarmoluk via Pixabay
The JAMA Pediatrics study reported that 27.9% of Maine children were diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or attention deficit disorder. According to researchers, about half of children nationwide with at least one mental disorder did not receive necessary treatment or attention from a medical professional.
Donald Trump stated early in his term he supported states’ rights to marijuana programs. In recent years, he has shown himself to be unfriendly to legal marijuana efforts. A lawsuit from earlier this month revealed a secret memo that showed the Trump Administration had blocked cannabis research for years. A top spokesman for Trump’s re-election campaign told reporters in February the president will maintain federal policies that keep marijuana illegal.
Over-the-counter meds can lead to grogginess, headaches, and possibly heart palpitations. But a sleepy alternative may be found in cannabidiol (CBD).
Sleep is precious and we need it more than we may realize. Living in a chronic sleep deprived state affects overall health and cognitive function, and can cause fatigue, weakened immunity, decreased libido, weight gain and carry an increased risk for chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.
Signs of sleep deprivation include moodiness, irritability, depression, difficulty learning, forgetfulness and lack of concentration. While many people ignore their sleep nutrition needs, others obsess over how to get enough of it.
A commonly used remedy for insomnia is everyday cold, flu and antihistamine medicines, such as Nyquil or Benadryl. But the sedating antihistamines present in these medicines that swiftly cause drowsiness to set in are not meant to induce sleep.
“[Over-the-counter] cold medications typically contain several medications, including a pain reliever, a cough suppressant and an antihistamine,” Susheel Patil, clinical director at Johns Hopkins Sleep Medicine Center, told the Huffington Post.
“These medications have an elimination half-life of 10 to 12 hours, which means they are often circulating in your blood after you are waking up,” she added.
This can lead to grogginess, headaches, and possibly heart palpitations. But a sleepy alternative may be found in cannabidiol (CBD). If taken a half-hour before bed, it could just do the trick.
Photo by PhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou/Getty Images
“CBD is commonly used to address anxiety, and for patients who suffer through the misery of insomnia, studies suggest that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep,” Peter Grinspoon, M.D., professor at Harvard Medical School, wrote in a blog post.
CBD has a calming effect on the central nervous system, reducing anxiety by regulating the production of the stress hormone cortisol. CBD also serves as a pain reliever and muscle relaxant, helping patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease to find better sleep. There is even some evidence that CBD helps to eliminate nightmares in those suffering from REM sleep behavior disorder.
Each body is unique, so it is important to experiment with CBD dosages and the time of day it is taken. Tinctures and sublingual sprays can offer effects quickly, while edibles and oils have a slower release, leading to a longer period of sleep.
A trip to the marijuana store is one of the few retail experiences we have outside of visiting the grocery store. So what can be learned from marijuana businesses during this stretch?
On January 21, 2020, a man in Washington State was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus after he traveled to China. This was the first confirmed case in the United States. A little over a month later, on February 29, a man in Washington died from what we were now calling COVID-19. This was the first reported COVID-19 death in the United States, though we would later learn that two residents of a nursing home in Washington State had died a few days before and a man in California’s autopsy later confirmed that he had succumbed to the virus on February 6.
At that point, everything began to accelerate. On March, 11 Governor Jay Inslee banned gatherings of more than 250 people in several counties. Washington was the first state to take what felt like an extreme measure of banning large gatherings. Twelve days later, on March 23rd, Inslee issued Washington’s state at home order shutting down non-essential businesses across the state. Among the few businesses deemed essential were the state’s marijuana retail stores, processors, and growers.
By now we’ve all become familiar with life under COVID-19 lockdown as these measures have been undertaken around the country and the world. The subject of reopening businesses has led to contentious debate and even protests. We don’t know when it will be safe to reopen or what will happen when we do but we do know that business is not going to simply go back to normal.
Marijuana businesses provide a case study as to what businesses will look like in the COVID-19 era. A trip to the marijuana store is one of the few retail experiences we have outside of visiting the grocery store. So what can be learned from marijuana businesses during this stretch? A lot.
For one, it’s pretty clear that consumer habits are heavily influenced by the constant news cycle. I live two blocks away from a retail store in Seattle. In the days leading up to Governor Inslee’s lockdown, there was a line out the door every day. On March 23rd, the day the stay home order was announced, one client told me they were busier than they were on 4/20 most years. People were stocking up because at the time we didn’t know whether stores marijuana businesses would continue to operate, but we did know that lockdown was imminent.
After a few days, the lockdown surge balanced out but COVID-19 continued to alter consumer behavior. COVID-19 wreaks havoc on the lungs so many consumers are ditching smokable products like pre-rolls and vape cartridges for edibles and tincture. Jenni Avins wrote about this market trend for Quartz. Marijuana businesses must consider how these changing consumer trends will impact production lines. Marijuana cannot cross state lines, which means that marijuana economies are cut off from each other. There is no national supply chain so if a product starts running low its not as if products can be redirected from another region.
COVID-19 has also raised a number of employment issues for marijuana businesses. For example, Governor Inslee issued a proclamation protecting the jobs of employees at a high risk of contracting COVID-19. This raises the question of what to do when an employee does not come into work due to the risk of COVID-19. Everyone should be cautious of COVID-19 as it can be deadly regardless of your general health. For those over 65 and those who are immune-compromised, caution is a matter of life and death.
Photo by zoe pappas via Pexels
Inslee’s proclamation to defend the jobs of “high risk” individuals is important policy as it means that they will not be laid off or fired because their health makes them especially susceptible to COVID-19. For the many small marijuana businesses, with only a few employees, that means business has to stop. In addition, “high risk” is a general term that Inslee doesn’t explicitly define. The proclamation references the Center for Disease Control’s guidance on what makes someone “high risk” but there are not clear lines. In addition, state and federal laws limit what an employer can ask an employee about employee health, and requires that employers make accommodations for employees with disabilities.
Marijuana employers also must make sure that the employees who are at work are protected. In Washington, there are minimum standards established by the state, such as providing enough space for social distancing (6 feet apart) and allowing employees to wash hands frequently. These measures are required by all businesses, not just those with marijuana licenses but marijuana businesses are heavily regulated by the Liquor and Cannabis Board (“LCB”) who are making sure those minimums are met.
Many marijuana businesses in Washington have continued operations despite not really being able to implement meaningful work from home measures due to the nature of the work. You can’t really grow, process, or sell marijuana from home. Well, not legally at least. Business has adapted during this process to protect employees. There have been trainings on hygiene and health. Some businesses have limited hours to allow nightly cleaning. Other have designed shifts to minimize the spread of COVID-19 by creating small groups that don’t overlap (meaning that if one person gets sick it won’t spread to the entire staff). I’ve been telling my clients to document everything they are doing so that if the issue ever arises, they can show that they took reasonable steps to keep their employees and customers safe.
These are just a few examples of what it’s like to operate a business in the new normal. As we see other businesses reopen, they’ll face the same issues and challenges. For now, marijuana businesses in Washington provide guidance on economic activity during COVID-19.
Sometimes we need a nudge in the right direction to keep us on the right track, especially regarding our health and well-being.
How much exercise do we need to stay in optimal health? Exercise recommendations typically vary based on the doctor you speak with or the institution whose guidelines you read about online. But according to recommendations from the Department of Health & Human Services, for the majority of healthy adults, we must get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (cardio) or at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (cardio) per week. This can be in the form of biking, hiking, weight training, pilates, standard cardio, or yoga.
When we’re unmotivated or stagnant, it helps to incorporate a natural form of medicine to boost our mood, focus, motivation, and energy, so we can get back on a healthy track. One natural medicine that can do this for us is cannabis and various cannabinoids.
Why Cannabis Can Help Improve and Enhance Your Exercise Routine
It’s no secret that cannabis and various cannabinoids are medically, therapeutically, and even nutritionally beneficial. Sometimes, though, we need a nudge in the right direction to keep us on the right track, especially regarding our health and well-being. Fortunately, cannabis can serve as a helping hand in areas related to exercise and health and wellness. When exercising, many people need to clear their mind and focus on the task at hand. Different cannabis strains can help make this a reality, thus, allowing individuals to get down to business and meet their workout goals.
One common myth about cannabis consumers is that they are lazy stoners who sit around all day eating junk food and watching TV. However, this couldn’t be more inaccurate seeing as though it has been found that cannabis users are not as likely to be obese and they have a lower body mass index (BMI) as compared to non-cannabis users. Overall, one way to remain fit, healthy, and in shape is to exercise frequently, and cannabis can help individuals meet these goals.
Numerous anecdotal success stories have pointed to individuals experiencing elevated motivation when they consumed cannabis before exercising in addition to being able to push through pain and soreness. Others have reported that consuming cannabis before exercising leads to a more enjoyable workout, and it can help them last longer.
If you plan on consuming cannabis before or during your workout, it’s recommended to consume strains high in CBD rather than THC, so you won’t have to worry about getting dizzy, light-headed, or anxious while exercising.
Cannabis—a Helping Hand Before, During, and After Workouts
There are countless cannabis strains to choose from, and they’re grouped into the categories of Sativa, Indica, and hybrids. Then, there are strains that are dominant in certain cannabinoids like THC and CBD. The cannabis strain you consume matters, especially if you’re consuming it for strictly medical and/or therapeutic purposes.
Fortunately for cannabis consumers, different strains can deliver much-needed energy and motivation plus medicinal benefits, which can significantly help before, during, and after workouts. After cannabis delivers a helpful energy jolt, individuals can combat fatigue better while possibly extending the length of their workout. For individuals who are often fatigued, depressed, or stressed, consuming certain cannabis strains can turn things around for the better. Sometimes, it can be a challenge to get out of bed in the morning and start the day off on a positive note. When life gets to be too much to handle, cannabis can offer a helping hand.
Once you find the right cannabis strain(s) to fulfill your personal criteria, life can be less overwhelming because you know that you can get medical and/or therapeutic help from cannabis when need be. However, it takes some time to find a cannabis strain that work best for you while also meeting your needs and wants, especially in the area of exercise goals. On the bright side, different websites and online platforms can help point you in the right direction by describing the medical and therapeutic benefits of various strains as well as its most common effects. Below are five beneficial cannabis strains that can help improve your exercise routine.
Five Cannabis Strains for Improving Exercise Routines
Durban Poison (Sativa):
Known for its energetic, uplifting, and euphoric effects
Contains THC and THCV, in which the latter cannabinoid contains appetite-suppressing properties
Can help individuals lose weight and manage their appetite and caloric intake
Can provide energetic boosts to stay consistent with workouts and exercise routines
Harlequin (Sativa):
Contains CBD and THC in which the CBD balances out the psycho-active effects caused by THC
The presence of CBD in this strain helps prevent dizziness and anxiety from occurring
Can provide focus, energy, and calmness to help individuals accomplish their workout goals
Contains anti-anxiety and analgesic properties
Ghost Train Haze (Sativa):
Often consumed by weight-lifters, hikers, and nature explorers
Contains high THC content thus making this strain more ideal for experienced cannabis consumers
Can help individuals stay focused, calm, and relaxed
Can deliver an energy boost, which helps individuals stay on track with exercise reps, sets, and overall workout routine
Grape Ape (Indica):
Contains various cannabinoids including CBD
Contains the terpene ‘myrcene’, which is known for its calming and tranquil effects
Ideal for post-workout muscle and joint recovery and relaxation
Great White Shark (Sativa):
Works to loosen up various stiff, achy, and sore muscles
Can deliver energy, focus, and uplifting effects
Helps deliver physical and mental improvements
Can help individuals carry on with workouts longer than usual
Cannabis Products to Use Before, During, or After Exercising
Nowadays, there are countless cannabis products out on the market that can help improve one’s well-being and quality of life. When it comes to exercising though and maintaining a consistent workout routine, certain cannabis products could be more suitable than others. Below are several beneficial cannabis products that can help improve and enhance your workout routine:
Infinite CBD’s a.m. capsules can help those who need an energy boost/jolt before exercising without feeling any psycho-active effects.
Cordial Organics ‘Balance’ CBD Tincture can help those who need a medical or therapeutic improvement before, during, or after working out. The added terpenes and phyto-cannabinoids can help improve users’ well-being too.
CBD Select Vape Pens (Relax Lavender Blend) can help individuals who need pain and inflammation relief due to overworked muscles. This product can also deliver calming benefits thus leading to physical and mental relaxation. The lavender and CBD in this product interact well with one another to deliver a multitude of medical and therapeutic benefits before, during, and after exercising.
Accumulating Benefits of Cannabis and CBD
As cannabis has become more socially accepted due to its variety of physical, mental, and emotional benefits, professional and non-professional athletes have begun using cannabis to help improve their focus while exercising, combatting anxiety and insecurities, and getting a motivation boost. So far, it has been found that different cannabinoids can impact the perception of discomfort and varying levels of pain. Additionally, cannabis is often consumed for its anti-inflammatory, anti-spasm, and analgesic properties.
Due to CBD’s non-psychoactive make-up and its variety of medicinal and therapeutic benefits, this cannabinoid is being consumed more and more by different athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and every day individuals who want to improve and enhance their exercise routine.
A new study found this age is ideal for limiting negative impacts on long-term health, educational attainment, and mental wellness.
Determining the legal age to allow consumption of various vices is a matter that’s hardly ever agreed upon. Late last year, Donald Trump signed a bill raising the age of legal tobacco purchases in the United States from 18 to 21. The legal drinking age varies throughout the world; in countries like Austria and Portugal, 16-year-olds can legally consume alcohol, whereas in the United States and Sri Lanka, the age is 21.
States with legal adult-use marijuana set the age limit at 21, but that is a contested figure within the scientific community. Some researchers believe that number should be higher. As two physicians argued in the New York Times last year, states should set a minimum age of 25 and older to avoid the damage marijuana incurs on developing brains.
A new study out of Canada proposes a different conclusion. Published in the peer-review journal BMC Public Health, researchers found 19-years-old is optimal in limiting negative impacts on long-term health, educational attainment, and mental wellness. (The legal limit in most Canadian provinces, except Quebec, is 19.)
“While the medical community recommended an MLA [minimum legal age] of 21 or 25 based on neuroscientific evidence about adverse impacts of cannabis on cognitive development, this would lead to a large underground market for cannabis,” the study’s authors wrote. “On the contrary, policymakers have decided on a lower MLA such as 18 or 19 to curb the size of underground market, but this raises concerns about adverse outcomes for adolescents.
“This study, however, found that later life outcomes associated with first using cannabis at age 19 are better than those associated with first using it at age 18 but not significantly different from those first using between 21 and 25.”
Photo by Wanida Prapan/Getty Images
For researchers, determining minimum legal age is all about balance. Their findings reported different ages were optimal based on the quality of focus. For general health purposes, 18-years-old was the optimal age. To ensure the greatest education retention, 21 was ideal. And those worried about mental health should know the best age is 19, according to the study.
“This finding helps to address concerns over potential adverse outcomes associated with setting a low age as MLA,” notes the study. “At the same time, our findings can also be used to highlight to youth and their caregivers, the long-term adverse impacts of starting cannabis before age 19.”
CBD is a complex compound that affects physical and emotional ailments. Although a lot remains unknown, here’s what experts believe.
Though it’s still a fledgling industry, CBD is booming. Despite the compound’s popularity, the product remains unregulated and lacks scientific research. People interested in the compound have to make sure that they’re purchasing the right kind of products, avoiding false advertising and items that claim to feature CBD but don’t.
There are many questions surrounding CBD, including how it works and why it provides relief for so many different conditions. While expert are nowhere near understanding all there is to know about the compound, here are some illuminating answers about how CBD interacts with your body:
Experts believe CBD attaches itself indirectly to the cannabinoid receptors in our bodies. These receptors are known for regulating a wide variety of behaviors, including appetite, pain, moods and even your memory. This is why CBD has an influence on so many different conditions, whether they’re emotional or physical.
It treats inflammation, pain and anxiety
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can reduce pain — not completely eliminating it, but making it more manageable. Experts believe the compound works best when taken as a supplement and not as a replacement for other kinds of treatment.
When it comes to anxiety and mood disorders, people say that CBD is non-psychoactive, which isn’t technically true. According to Project CBD: “If CBD can relieve anxiety or depression or psychosis, then obviously cannabidiol is a profound mood-altering substance, even if it doesn’t deliver much by way of euphoria. Perhaps it would be better to say that CBD is ‘not psychoactive likeTHC, rather than repeating the familiar and somewhat misleading refrain that “CBD is not psychoactive.”
Different studies suggest that CBD can treat anxiety, PTSD, panic disorders, and more. Data shows that results are even better when there’s some THC thrown in the mix
It could influence sleep and gastrointestinal issues
Photo by Kinga Cichewicz via Unsplash
There’s mixed evidence on CBD and gastrointestinal issues, with one study suggesting that the compound might help treat people with GERD by limiting acid reflux. When taking high doses or experiencing an adverse reaction to CBD, some of the side effects reported include nausea and diarrhea.
It may have adverse reactions when taken with other drugs
One of CBD’s strongest shortcomings is the fact that when consumed in very high doses it can interact with other medications that people might be taking. This is especially concerning for people who suffer from chronic illnesses and other conditions where they’re consuming different medications.
You should try to take better care of yourself during the pandemic, paying special attention to your mental health.
The pandemic has a way of messing with even the most organized routine. The stress of the news cycle, the isolation, and all that time spent indoors makes it easy for the hours to blend together and lose meaning.
Eating, showering, working and watching Netflix might be the only things you have mental space for, and that’s okay. But every day you should try to work a little bit on yourself, making yourself feel better even if the world feels crazier than ever. Focusing on our needs will help us function better and be a better and more considerate part of society. Here are 5 self-care tips we should all be using now.
Make a list of things you’re grateful for
When we’re depressed and anxious it’s easy to focus on all the bad and stressful things going on in our lives, forgetting about the good parts. Think about whatever good thing is going on in your life and highlight it. Writing it down will help you get some perspective. It’s also nice to see all of the good stuff piled up together. Plus, the more you focus on the good things in your life, the more good things you’ll receive.
Working from home demands a lot of discipline. It’s very easy to blur the lines between your work time and your free time if you don’t have to physically leave your house. If you started off quarantine with a strict routine that has slowly fallen apart, it’s time to start again. Switch things up by making simple changes, such as waking up a bit earlier or taking a shower first thing in the morning. These small tweaks can help you be more productive in the long run.
Limit your news intake
At some point you have to stop reading the news and all the heartbreaking reporting that’s going on. While you should still remain informed, try catching up on news twice a day for a period of 15 minutes. Even better, try to limit your news intake to once a day, preferably before the end of the day.
Try reading that book or article you’ve been meaning to read for weeks, pushing yourself for about 30 minutes a day. This small challenge is a good amount of time for people who can’t focus enough to read entire books. The more you practice, the more likely you’ll start reading more. Reading before bed is a good habit to pick up nowadays, especially if it replaces your late night social media habit.
Develop a bedtime routine
Routines are extremely helpful for developing habits that ultimately benefit your health, including sleep. Try to maintain a steady routine before bed, such as limiting your screen time, having tea, reading a book or meditating. It can be as simple as just laying in bed at the same time every night — anything to help you wind down.
Hopefully these 5 self-care tips we should all be using now is helpful.
Many people have benefited from using cannabidiol (CBD), a substance scientifically proven to be safe for human consumption — even for children. It not only has a wide range of therapeutic benefits but also has been useful for treating numerous serious ailments and disorders. However, not all products touted as “natural CBD oil” are actually as natural they claim to be. You have to be a bit watchful, here is how to spot fake CBD.
Natural CBD is admittedly safe. But they don’t include products that are made from synthetic lab-produced cannabinoids or contain contaminants, high levels of hallucinatory cannabinoids like Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or other harmful substances.
Using such products will do more damage to you than simply making you fail a drug test. You can end up falling horribly sick or even dead!
With the growing popularity of CBD products, some unscrupulous cannabis growers and CBD oil manufacturers are taking advantage of loopholes in the existing regulations and the vulnerabilities of the common man in this country to push their business forward with cheap, artificial and untested products in the name of CBD oil.
Photo by HighGradeRoots/Getty Images
Cheap Synthetic CBD
From a once non-existent market category to a $1 billion industry, the hemp-derived CBD has become a booming industry today.
But, it was disheartening to hear of 50 people falling severely ill after using CBD oil in Utah last year. It is worse when we find out that the oil that those people unwittingly smoked up thinking it was genuine CBD vape oil did not even contain any natural cannabinoid, but contained some lab-produced synthetic cannabinoids.
The reason why people fall for these products are usually because of three reasons:
Their low price,
Tall promises of curing all health conditions, and
Claims of not being detected on a drug test.
The unfortunate thing is these people were plain and simple duped! The company lied to its customers, and as a result, harmed them in ways that their unwary consumers were not prepared for.
These dangerous designer drugs had prompted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a nationwide health warning about these man-made synthetic cannabinoids.
This is precisely why most reputed brands who sell genuine products are obligated to present their proof of their genuineness to their customers. They post the results of their products tested by third-party laboratories, also known as a Certificate of Analysis, which tests not only for synthetic components, but also other contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides and heavy metals as well as natural cannabinoids that possess hallucinatory effects, like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, a natural cannabinoid found in cannabis plants).
Spice
Photo courtesy of DEA
Known by different names — K2, Spice, Mr. Happy, Scooby Snax, and Kronic — is nothing but a group of lab-made synthetic cannabinoids that have been associated with a lot of people falling sick.
Originally designed by scientists for research, this drug is made from dried plant materials, sprayed with hallucinogenic chemicals.
However, with the production method of this drug being published in scientific journals as part of their research, this knowledge also fell into the hands of some unscrupulous, over-ambitious drug makers, who used it to produce illicit drugs.
Once it hit the market, it came out as a new form of marijuana and people started rolling up the plant material into “joints” and smoking them like marijuana.
This synthetic marijuana or fake weed is also sold in a liquid form that can be inhaled through a vape pen or mixed in tea to consume.
Although these are man-made cannabinoids, it has the same effect on the human brain (especially the endocannabinoid system) as THC, but with far more intensity (even up to 100 times more intense).
With no way to regulate them, there is no saying which hallucinogens are being used by the manufacturers to make their products.
The “Free” Scam
Nothing in the CBD world is free. It simply can’t be. Manufacturing a bottle of genuine, natural CBD oil is expensive. If anybody tells you otherwise, be sure you are being tricked.
While searching for CBD oil online, if you come across phrases like:
Best Price, Limited Offer
Limited-Time Special Offer
Special Discount For Only Today
Then be alert. Look up the brand and find out if their products are genuine.
And if you see:
CBD oil free trial
Or, they tell you to submit your credit card to free stuff
DON’T BUY, REPORT.
Some “free sample” offers are nothing more than hidden subscription ploy to force you to give away your credit/debit card details, which they will use to forcefully sell you low-quality products. You may even find it difficult to cancel the alleged subscription. You may have to call up your bank or credit card company to cancel their card to stop payments.
Some other scammers will charge you more for what they are selling by simply calling it shipping and processing fee (while they send you a low-quality product).
Quite a few reputed CBD brands offer quality products at a fair price. Do due diligence while looking for a CBD product and research on their makers. Find out everything you can about a company and the brand before you blindly fall for such “Free, Free, Free” lure.
Photo by Tiara Leitzman via Unsplash
Pushing Hemp Seed Oil Instead of Hemp CBD
Another reason for the confusion among users and abuse of the market is ignorance. Not only do you need to be wary about “fake CBD” and “free samples”, but you should also learn everything there is to know about how CBD is sourced and manufactured.
If you have, you would know that hemp seed oil is not CBD oil derived from hemp.
So, when you research on any brand, look for its ingredients on the label or their website.
If it is Hempseed Oil, it will be listed as Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil.
If it is genuine CBD oil, you may see Cannabidiol, full-spectrum hemp, hemp oil, PCR (phytocannabinoid-rich) or PCR hemp extracts written on the label.
Also, look at their CoA for their products on their product webpages.
Yes, they are lab tests, but not difficult for a layman to read and understand. It is meant for you, so it’s really quite simple.
Hemp seed oil: Although a good carrier oil for CBD, it is not the same as CBD oil. So what is it?
For that, you need to know where CBD oil is sourced. The best quality and most potent CBD oils are produced from hemp flowers. While the rest of the plant – like its leaves and shoots – may be used too. But, they have far less CBD content.
The smaller seeds, in particular, have the least amount of it – traces at the best. Hemp seeds can be used to make hempseed milk or granola. They can also be cold-pressed to produce oil. But this oil is only good for cooking, making beauty products, or making paint.
While hemp seed oil does have some benefits, like mild anti-inflammatory effects and skin moisturizer, it does not have sufficient levels of CBD to be called “CBD oil”.
This means you would end up paying much for the product that it deserves. Intentionally or unintentionally, some companies try to push a cheaper product like hemp seed oil.
Tricking Consumers with Low CBD Content
Apart from hemp seed oil, there are other CBD products that don’t contain enough CBD to have any perceivable health benefits.
Always look for the CBD content in mg on the label. This is the concentration of the CBD contained in the product. The total volume of the liquid does not guarantee CBD content.
For instance, a 3 oz. bottle of tincture, priced at $50 and containing only 100 mg of CBD, may seem like a good deal. But, it is actually not. It is costing you $0.50/mg. A 1 oz. bottle, priced at $132 and containing 3000mg of CBD, is, in fact, a better deal ($0.04/mg).
Making Sure You Get Quality Product
Photo by Yana Tatevosian/Getty Images
By now, you must have understood that buying CBD oil isn’t as easy as you may have thought – click-click-click.
You need to do a lot of research…
Research on how CBD oil is sourced, extracted, processed, purified, and the end product manufactured.
Research on the companies and brands selling the products
Studying the CoAs, if they are provided by the companies. If they are not provided, they are obligated to provide one on request.
Understanding the current market situation and the presence of synthetic cannabinoids, scammers, and cheap variants with tall claims.
The actual health benefits of CBD, so you don’t get lured by brands that make outrageous claims like curing cancer!
Bad highs can make people feel uncomfortable and out of sorts for long periods of time. Here’s how you can help out a friend in need.
Bad highs are a dime a dozen. Experiencing one is awful and even when you think you’ve taken every precaution, there’s no guarantee that your body won’t surprise you with a bad or strange reaction to marijuana. It is one thing to have a bad high, it is another to watch someone you know suffer. Here are ways to calm down a friend with a bad high.
Watching a friend or loved one go through a bad high is also a complex process, especially if you’ve consumed weed with them. Paranoia and bad vibes are contagious, so it’s always important to keep a cool head no matter what they’re experiencing. As long as the marijuana you purchased is from a reliable source and you haven’t mixed any drugs, your friend should be okay, even if they feel awful.
Take preventative steps
If your friend has little experience with marijuana, suggest purchasing a cannabis strain that contains manageable amounts of THC. Tell them to speak with their weed person and ask for something that’s light and that won’t lead to a bad high. If your friend is consuming from a pre-rolled joint, advise them to have a couple of puffs and wait 20 minutes before engaging again. If you guys are consuming an edible, take small dosages (like, 5mg) and be patient.
Help your friend lay or sit down and make them feel cozy and comfortable. Surround them with pillows and blankets. If there’s a dog or a cat nearby, put them in their vicinity. Remind them to take deep and comforting breaths.
Remind them that this is a temporary situation
The bad high has kicked in and there’s nothing you can do to reverse it. Take a deep breath and build up your patience. Make it clear to your friend that this is a temporary situation and that no one has ever died of a bad marijuana high. Try speaking in a soothing voice and not indulging in their paranoia, encouraging them to lie down and take deep calming breaths. Try to keep them distracted with a chat about everyday things or hold their hand and remind them that they’re not alone.
Napping is one of the world’s best remedies; it has a particular power over bad highs. If there’s a bed or couch nearby, try to get your friend to lie down and offer some privacy. Putting on a rom-com or sitcom won’t hurt to help distract them. When they wake up, they’ll feel much better.
Take them outdoors
Nature and fresh air work really well for some people, allowing them to breathe deeply and get some much needed perspective on their problems. Still, make sure to not leave your friend alone and talk to them through their process, keeping them as calm and distracted as you can. They’ll feel better in no time. A couple of prolong hours, tops.
Jeff Bezos is one of richest person in the world. As the founder of Amazon, he has transformed shopping – but does he consume and just chill?
Jeff Bezos is the head of Amazon and the richest person in the world by a considerable margin. Believed to become the world’s first trillionaire by 2026, Bezos has been one of the few figures who appears not to have been influenced by the pandemic, at least in terms of money. Amazon’s stock has increased by 25% this year, and shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
News on Bezos and his marijuana use is sparse, with no clear comments on what he thinks of the drug, much less if he uses it. The Rooster says that Bezos’s position on marijuana is unclear although he does have liberal views. If Amazon sales were to benefit from marijuana legalization in some shape or form, we doubt Bezos would be opposed to the plant.
Still, Amazon has a complex history with marijuana. According to Market Watch, Amazon reportedly fired and blacklisted an employee due to his medical marijuana use. The man from New Jersey filed a lawsuit and explained that he never used marijuana during work hours and wasn’t impaired on the job.
Photo by Christian Wiediger via Unsplash
On the other hand, Whole Foods, a subsidiary of Amazon, appears to have a more open relationship with marijuana, with some experts arguing that it’s only a matter of time before the herb makes its way onto shelves. “If cannabis is ever passed in Texas, chances are good that grocery stores will be selling that too,” said Whole Foods CEO John Mackey. “You just never know what happens over time with markets. They change and evolve.”
With the small bits of data that are available, we’re all making assumptions, especially when it comes to Bezos and his personal relationship with weed. For all we know, he might be a secret pothead.
