Taking CBD For The First Time? Here Are Some Quick Basics

Maria Loreto

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May 8, 2020

Taking CBD For The First Time? Here Are Some Quick Basics

CBD products are very popular but the industry is still changing. Here are the basics you should know before using CBD for the first time.

It’s never too late to try CBD and experience for yourself the benefits that everyone is raving about. Taking CBD for the first time? Here are some quick basics. It is easy to use and an ideal way of helping you manage anxiety, depression and physical aches.

Since the CBD industry is still pretty nascent, there’s a lot of kinks need to be worked out and a lot of misinformation that should motivate you to question CBD products sold on Amazon and other outlets. Finding a brand you trust and a product you want to use can be an intimidating process if you don’t have the right information. And if you’ve never purchased CBD, let alone used it, how do you know where to begin?

Here are some basics that’ll help you make the most of your inaugural CBD purchase:

Where to start?

CBD can be consumed in many different ways, with some of the most popular methods including oils, topicals, sublinguals, capsules, edibles, and more. Ask yourself which product would suit you best, whether you’d like to experiment with skincare or you’re looking for pain or anxiety relief. For localized results, such as muscle pain or dry skin, topicals are the best ways to go. For stress and anxiety, CBD sublinguals and oils are the answer, because they’re quick acting and allow you to manage your dosage.

Before buying anything, do some research. Here’s a guide that’ll help you buy CBD products that are worth the investment.

What’s the right dosage?

CBD And How It Works With Your Body's Built-In Cannabinoid System — Photo by R+R Medicinals via Unsplash

Like all substances, many factors affect your body’s appropriate dosage, such as weight, CBD concentration, and the condition you’re treating. Most people start off with a small dose of CBD — ideally the one that’s suggested on the product’s label or website — and progressively increase it. Many CBD oil brands recommend just a drop or two to start out. It wouldn’t hurt to keep a journal or jot down your daily dosage for best results.

How do you know if it’s working?

The FDA Continues To Chase CBD Companies — Photo by Tree of Life Seeds via Pexels

Everyone’s process is different. The easiest way to know if the product you’re consuming is working is to keep track of your progress, recapping your physical and mental affects every day or week in order to notice any improvements (or lack thereof) in the condition you’re trying to treat.

If a couple of weeks have passed and you’ve been increasing your dosage with no results, you should try switching up the product or the method of consumption.

Too Many Quarantinis? How CBD Can Curb Day Drinking

Maria Loreto

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May 7, 2020

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Too Many Quarantinis? How CBD Can Curb Day Drinking

The stress and boredom of the pandemic has spiked alcohol sales all over the country. Here’s how CBD can help you manage your intake.

If there’s one thing the pandemic has reignited in us it’s our love of alcohol. The fact that time is no longer linear means that people now find themselves drinking at odd times of the day, whether it’s noon on a Monday or during a Zoom happy hour Friday evening.

One of the biggest concerns for health experts is what the world will look like post pandemic and how these alcohol habits we’ve adopted will affect us in the long run. Despite lacking a ton of scientific research, CBD oils and other products could help curb your alcohol intake if you’re feeling like your drinking is getting out of hand.

A May 2019 study published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology suggests that CBD can help people reduce the amount of alcohol they drink while also protecting their livers and brains, two organs that are greatly affected by heavy alcohol consumption. The study, conducted on mice who consumed ethanol, demonstrated that consuming CBD could reduce the amounts of ethanol consumed by mice while also preventing alcohol relapses.

“By reducing alcohol-related processes of steatosis in the liver, and brain alcohol-related damage, CBD could improve both the hepatic and neurocognitive outcomes of subjects with AUD, regardless of the individual drinking trajectories. This might pave the way for testing new harm reduction approaches in AUD, i.e., for protecting the organs of subjects with an ongoing AUD,” explain the study’s authors.

How To Find The CBD Dosage That's Best For You — Photo by Sohini via Unsplash

While research on CBD’s effects on humans is limited, one study found that smokers who consumed CBD were more likely to reduce their cigarette use, meaning that CBD can be helpful in treating addictive behaviors.

For those who are quarantined and are looking for better coping mechanisms, consuming a couple of CBD drops or CBD gummies might be a simple and effective way of introducing something to your system that isn’t alcohol and that won’t impair your behavior.

CBD is not intoxicating or harmful to your system, promoting relaxation and helping you cope with depressive symptoms. While alcohol is certainly fun, your body and mental health will be thankful for a break; you’ll notice improvements within just a few short weeks (if those still exist).

How Drug Use Is Changing For Better—And Worse—Under Quarantine

Brendan Bures

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May 7, 2020

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How Drug Use Is Changing For Better—And Worse—Under Quarantine

While social drug use is expected to fall, experts worry the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the opioid epidemic.

The coronavirus pandemic is already changing United States drug policy. Marijuana is an “essential business” in the eyes of state governments and lawmakers believe cannabis legalization could provide necessary stimulation to the post-coronavirus economy.

But how is the pandemic changing drug use? The short answer: Social drug use is going down, but problematic drug use could be on the rise. Scientists have already begun research into larger answers about how COVID-19 is changing drug behavior. Adam Winstock, who founded the Global Drugs Survey and is a consulting addiction psychiatrist at University College London, says early reports indicate use of party drugs is on the decline.

“Most people who use cocaine and MDMA in the U.K. use the drugs in social environments, maybe 10 or 15 times a year,” Winstock told Huffington Post. “It’s probably not that much fun doing half a gram of coke and a couple of pints when you’re stuck at home, as opposed to being at the pub or a club with your mates.”

Supply chain disruption and increasing black market prices could diminish use of party drugs as well. The exception, Winstock added, is marijuana, which is a “pretty good drug for eating up time,” he said.

While a lack of physical support networks could decrease partying, U.S. public health experts worry that same absence could exacerbate the opioid epidemic. More than 2 million Americans struggle with opioid use disorder, Pew Research Center reports, and about 130 people die every day from opioid overdoses, according to the Centers for Drug Disease and Prevention (CDC).

Assistance like syringe exchange programs and in-person community group meetings have vanished, due to coronavirus social distancing protocol. Harm reduction programs across the country aren’t operating at their previous capacity either, as lack of funding and staff personal safety can’t meet the demand. Add the stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and it becomes clear why experts are worried.

heres the number one reason not to skip your office holiday party — Photo by Kelsey Chance via Unsplash

“This changing, very strange world that we’re living through could serve as a trigger for people to return to drug use,” Vital Strategies director of drug use initiatives Daliah Heller told CNN. “And that brings a great potential for overdose with it.”

Official data at the state and federal level for the past couple months isn’t yet available. But drug overdose reports have spiked in multiple parts of the country, as CNN first reported. The Sheriff’s Office in Niagara County, New York announced that drug overdoses from Jan. 1 to April 6 are 35% higher this year than in 2019. Ohio’s Franklin County, where the city of Columbus is located, saw surges in overdose deaths every Friday in April, according to Dr. Anahi Ortiz, Franklin County Coroner. From Jan. 1 to April 15, Ortiz wrote on Facebook, fatal overdoses increased 50% in the county.

“For the month of April alone we saw 62 people die of overdoses,” Ortiz wrote. “In April we saw a younger age group dying of overdoses than in 2019: 25 to 35. In 2019 the majority were 35 and up.

“Much of the cocaine here in Franklin County is cut with fentanyl and sold without people knowing,” she added. “We need to check in with those who use. And, we need to continue to advocate for wiser and better ways of treating those with addictions.”

What To Know Before Visiting A Marijuana Dispensary

Maria Loreto

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May 7, 2020

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What To Know Before Visiting A Marijuana Dispensary

Marijuana dispensaries are usually friendly places. Still, there’s some basics you should know before making your first visit.

Unlike alcohol and grocery shopping, buying legal marijuana is an experience that asks for some kind of preparation. Marijuana dispensaries can be intimidating places for someone who’s never been in one before, filled with people who look like they know all there is to know about cannabinoids and terpenes.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, some states have labeled marijuana as an essential business, making their dispensaries come up with different ways of getting their products to customers, whether that’s through delivery or curbside pickup. These restrictions make it more complex to shop for cannabis products, since you can’t simply choose a package because it has a cool label.

There is no right way to shop for marijuana, to have a better experience here is what to know beforing visiting a marijuana dispensary.

Have your ID and some cash

Oregon Marijuana Retailers Pass Decoy Test — Photo by Heath Korvola / Getty Images

Visiting your local marijuana dispensary shouldn’t be some spur of the moment decision, since you need to show some ID once you’re there. Have your passport or state issued ID on hand and make a stop at your ATM to get some cash. While some dispensaries have ATMs on site, it’s always best to have everything at the ready. And with the coronavirus, you likely won’t want to linger in the shop.

Ask yourself what you’re looking for

Whether you’re looking for edibles, vape pens, flowers, a happy high or a cerebral one, ask yourself these questions before you arrive. This way, you can just ask for what you want and you’ll get accurate results. Most dispensaries function by setting you up with a budtender who’ll show you some products and ask you some questions about what you’re looking for.

Be open with your budtender

Why Are Marijuana Retailers Struggling To Keep Budtenders? — Photo by Heath Korvola/Getty Images

No one enters a dispensary and instantly knows how to act. It’s all a learning experience, which is why you shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask questions, even if they sound silly. Your budtender is your go to person for cannabis questions, whether you’re wondering about THC levels or the purpose of terpenes in cannabis flowers.

Wait until you’re home to consume

While this should go without saying, no matter where you are, odds are you won’t be able to smoke publicly or sample the dispensary’s products. Once you’ve purchased your weed, light up only once you make it home.

Joe Biden Adds Marijuana And Drug Reform To ‘Plan For Black America’ Agenda

Brendan Bures

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May 7, 2020

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Joe Biden Adds Marijuana And Drug Reform To ‘Plan For Black America’ Agenda

Joe Biden updated his marijuana stance this week, although some advocates say the former VP hasn’t gone far enough.

Joe Biden remains full of surprises when it comes to marijuana. The presumptive Democratic presidential nomination and former Vice President has flip-flopped on marijuana reform in the past. But Biden announced his “Plan for Black America” agenda this week and included federal marijuana decriminalization and expungement of prior marijuana convictions.

These aren’t new policy positions for Biden, but they do demonstrate how his stance on cannabis reform is steadfast. Biden’s plan additionally calls for ending the sentencing disparity between crack and cocaine convictions, which data has shown creates harsher penalties for people of color. The agenda will also aim to repeal mandatory minimum sentencing, abolish the death penalty, and divert individuals from drug courts to treatment centers.

“Today, too many people are incarcerated in the United States – and too many of them are African American,” Biden’s campaign website states. “To build safe and healthy communities, we need to rethink who we’re sending to prison, how we treat those in prison, and how we help them get the health care, education, jobs, and housing they need to successfully rejoin society after they serve their time.”

Joe Biden Backtracks, Now Claims Marijuana Is Not A Gateway Drug — Photo by Sean Rayford/Stringer/Getty Images

Earlier this year, Bernie Sanders officially endorsed Biden and the pair announced a joint taskforce on issues important to voters. Because Sanders was an early proponent for federal legalization — even promising to end prohibition his first day in office through executive order — cannabis advocates assumed marijuana reform would be included in the taskforce. Instead, Sanders declined to include cannabis legalization on a list of issues he believes Biden would seriously pursue in office.

Analysts propose Biden could help himself this November if he backed cannabis legalization in the coming months. Polling data has shown that more than half of all registered voters in each state supports ending federal prohibition. Those numbers reach a majority in key states like Minnesota and New Hampshire.

Why Would-Be Dads Should Reconsider Marijuana Use In Quarantine

Brendan Bures

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May 7, 2020

0

Why Would-Be Dads Should Reconsider Marijuana Use In Quarantine

Sex and marijuana use are on the rise in lockdown. And according to science, the two don’t always mix.

Couples cohabitating under quarantine will produce one of two results: babies or divorce. So the joke goes on social media. Divorce rates have trended downward since the Great Recession in 2008. But experts and lawyers expect a looming divorce surge to occur once life returns to normal after the coronavirus pandemic. One lawyer even called it, “Divorce-apalooza.”

So will there be a baby-palooza, too? Probably not. Scientists propose a baby blip, not a baby boom, for couples living in quarantine. Disasters don’t usually cause a bump in fertility rates and Americans were already experiencing historic lows in birth rates.

Plus, marijuana use reached an all-time high amid the coronavirus pandemic. Americans have turned to cannabis to manage stress, anxiety, depression, and to achieve a better night’s sleep. One survey found parents with kids at home under quarantine are more likely to use marijuana than single adults. Why does that matter for couples breaking the odds and conceiving under quarantine? Because for any dad or would-be dad using cannabis to manage mental health right now should know marijuana and sperm don’t mix well together.

Most science indicates that smoking weed lowers sperm count and concentration, though normal fertility levels in men can return if they take a marijuana break. But a Denmark study in Scientific Reports showed that marijuana and sperm might have a deeper relationship than previously imagined.

In ways both good and bad, it appears male sexual organs have more signs of the endocannabinoid system and can recognize the presence of cannabinoids. That means “humans sperm-production hardware is attuned to interacting with cannabinoid chemicals,” Inverse writes of the study, which could explain why sperm changes following marijuana consumption.

“In conclusion, the specific and differential expression patterns suggest a direct involvement of the [endocannabinoid system] in the physiology of the human testis,” the researchers wrote.

That still doesn’t completely answer how cannabis affects sperm beyond count and concentration. Another recent study published in the Epigenetics journal might provide an answer. Focusing on possible mutations sperm undergoes following marijuana exposure, scientists from Duke University found changes in a gene strongly related to autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia.

“We were surprised to find this significant association between marijuana use in men and changes in this gene that is implicated in autism,” study co-author Rose Schrott told Fatherly.

After testing 24 men — 12 cannabis users, 12 non-users — combined with rat studies, the scientists identified significant hypomethylation in Discs-Large Associated Protein 2, or DLGAP2, from those with marijuana in their systems.

“Differential methylation of DLGAP2 is reported in the brain of individuals with autism, and has been linked to post-traumatic stress disorder in rats,” the study’s authors wrote. “Knockout of DLGAP2 in mice results in abnormal social behavior, increased aggressive behavior, and learning deficits.”

Marijuana-using men everywhere trying to have a child shouldn’t immediately start freaking out, researchers cautioned. This is the first findings of its kind, meaning these results need to be duplicated before linking marijuana smoking and autism in offspring. Scientists behind the study still aren’t sure what their findings reveal.

“We are only able to report this association present in the sperm of men who use marijuana. So what this means for children, we don’t know,” Schrott added.

In other words, combining marijuana and babymaking under quarantine is not advisable at the moment.

Is It Safe To Send Flowers And Gifts For Mother’s Day During Coronavirus?

Maria Loreto

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May 6, 2020

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Is It Safe To Send Flowers And Gifts For Mother’s Day During Coronavirus?

Special dates make it more challenging for people to celebrate and remain socially distanced.

Delivery services of all kinds have provided people with some normalcy during the coronavirus pandemic. Even if the process is mired by small stressors such as cleaning packages and trying to prevent them from interacting with surfaces in your home, we’ve all had things delivered during the pandemic, whether it was an impulse buy or much needed groceries.

Birthdays and other special dates have been impacted by the coronavirus as well, including Mother’s Day, where people are planning to have Zoom meetings and phone calls in order to celebrate (please, people, do not clog parks!). How safe is it to send flowers or presents to your mother during this era?

The Huffington Post spoke with several experts who gave out recommendations and their professional opinions.

Look for contactless delivery options

Is It Safe To Send Presents & Flowers For Mother's Day During Coronavirus? — Photo by Rodion Kutsaev via Unsplash

Many businesses now have the option of contactless delivery, which means they can deliver your package without having physical contact with the recipient.

“The risk from any delivery comes from the contact with the person making the delivery. Touchless delivery, which minimizes contact with the person making the delivery, eliminates this risk, and this is very easy to do for floral deliveries,” says Brian Labus, professor of Public Health at the University of Nevada.

Leave instructions to the delivery service to drop off flowers or presents at the door or, if you have a car or live close to your mom, drop off the package yourself and ensure you keep proper distance.

Trust the business you’re buying from

When it comes to practicing safe delivery options, what matters most is that you trust the business you’re ordering from. While the risk is contracting COVID-19 from a package is minimal, it’s still important to be safe and to be as sure as you can that the place you’re ordering from is doing their best to protect themselves and their customers from the virus.

Be extra careful

What Parents Should Know About Dabbing Vs Smoking Marijuana — Photo by Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

It’s understandable to be exhausted by the pandemic and by social distancing measures, even feeling like the threat has passed a bit, which may cause us to slack on preventive measures. Although it’s exhausting to remain cooped up and isolated, it’s very important to know that we still remain in a precarious situation. Just because we’re sick of the coronavirus doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t monitor our health and the health of our loved ones, especially if our parents are over the age of 65.

Surgery and Marijuana Use

Kate-Madonna Hindes

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May 6, 2020

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Before you consume marijuana to calm your nerves, here are three things you should know before undergoing surgery.

The Fresh Toast – It can a bit nerve-racking to go under the knife, so he is what you should know about surgery and marijuana use.

There are few life events as anxiety-inducing as going into surgery. From the fear of anesthesia to time spent in recuperation, the thought of being put under can cause even the most mellow to seek a way to lessen the stress that surgery can bring.

Managing stress and readying for surgery can seem arduous. Luckily, research isn’t suggesting patients need to quit cannabis all-together, but it does recommend leaving some time between consumption and surgery for better health effects.

Here are three things to know before surgery when you’ve smoked or ingested cannabis:

(1) Marijuana users could need more sedatives than non-users. Kaiser Health News reported that a small study in Colorado found that marijuana users required more than three times the amount of the sedation medicine Propofol. (2) Smoking cannabis seems to increase sputum, which may lead to an increase of mucus or fluid inside the mouth. More mucus than saliva, sputum can increase risks and complications during the procedure and after.

(3) While tempting, indulging in marijuana immediately before surgery can cause vasodilation, wherein blood pressure can fall, due to blood vessels relaxing.

With all the variables of anesthesiology, having a candid conversation with your care team can ensure the best outcome. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) states that since marijuana has a sedative effect on the body, it’s always a wise idea to share with your care team if you’ve used edibles, smoked or ingested cannabis before surgery.

Many providers ask patients to stop smoking marijuana 12-hours before and to refrain from ingesting edibles at least 4 hours before. New research is showing that cannabis use after surgery can help alleviate pain and bring better healing not only of the body but of the spirit as well.

“Using cannabis right before surgery may add strain to the heart, which can elevate the risk for heart attack or stroke. While we don’t know all the risk factors present with cannabis, we do know that great conversations can lead to better patient experiences.” – Michael Philbin, MD

Dr. Michael Philbin at Edina Plastic Surgery in Minnesota believes “Cannabis use is so common that many providers are no longer phased by its mention.” He supports dialog between doctor and patient that eliminates the stigma around discussing cannabis; to focus on the patient as a whole. Philbin also advocates strongly for open communication between patient and doctor explaining, “Having a conversation about the right waiting time for using marijuana before surgery (and after) can be determined during a pre-surgery check with your doctor.”

opioid abuse — Photo by sasint via Pixabay

Cannabis over opioids: Better options are becoming available

One bright spot is that many recent studies are finding cannabis is a great alternative to opioids for long-term pain or those in rehabilitation after surgery. A recent study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health found that cannabis offered patients a better experience over opioids.

Published in 2017, the analysis found that, “Respondents overwhelmingly reported that cannabis provided relief on par with their other medications, but without the unwanted side effects. Ninety-seven percent of the sample “strongly agreed/agreed” that they can decrease the amount of opiates they consume when they also use cannabis, and 81% “strongly agreed/agreed” that taking cannabis by itself was more effective at treating their condition than taking cannabis with opioids. ”

Another study found that harm-reduction was evident when marijuana was combined with opioids, lessening both doses of heavy narcotics, side effects, and the possibility for addition. Presented at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics annual meeting in 2019, Vanessa Minervini, Ph.D., found that not only did cannabis help enhance pain-relief aspects and that when combined, the participants had better healing.

When discussing cannabis with your doctor, keep in mind that many medical professionals are in-tune with the growing need for alternatives to pharmaceuticals. Having early and often discussions around how best to manage your care before surgery, and after can help you feel empowered and knowledgeable about your care.

5 Things You Can Do If You Have ‘Working From Home Fatigue’

Maria Loreto

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May 6, 2020

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5 Things You Can Do If You Have ‘Working From Home Fatigue’

A lot of people are completely drained working from home these days. Here’s what you can do to improve your productivity.

Common sense says that the more you do something, the better you become at it. By this time, most of us should be adept at working from home, managing to stay on track with our tasks and sticking to our routines. This isn’t the case.

Understandably, the pandemic has affected us in ways we’re not equipped to understand yet. Unlike other traumatic experiences, the coronavirus has no end in sight and there’s no way of knowing what’s coming next. Every stage is a new experience, with new mental challenges and stress to deal with. Your sleep, alcohol intake, and bingeing patterns may be fluctuating, taking a toll on your work productivity.

Work stability is important for us to feel like we have some control over our environment. Here are some things you can practice to get a hold of your productivity and keep fatigue at bay.

Take it easy on yourself

the 10 best tv shows movie to watch when high — Photo by franckreporter/Getty Images

For starters, it’s important for you to be kind to yourself. In a way, lower your expectations with what you’re supposed to be doing, the goals you had for the year, and more. While you shouldn’t discard them or forget about them, you should also give yourself the to cope with the new stressors that are affecting your life. It’s important to continue to pursue hobbies and personal projects, but also to understand that measuring yourself up to your previous standards is not healthy nor realistic.

Relaxation techniques

Whether that’s yoga, meditation, pilates, reading, or trying your best to stay still and do nothing, now’s the time to get back to cultivating these habits. Even if you don’t feel like it, make the time for you to meditate and practice relaxation techniques. Schedule these moments throughout your days and weeks, using alarms as reminders, treating them as any other healthy task you commit to on a day to day basis, like showering and eating.

Find something that’ll help you start & end your work day

how to come down from a marijuana high quickly bath — Photo by Roberto Nickson via Unsplash

One of the aspects that is affecting us the most right now is the fact that time has lost meaning. Now that we spend all of our days at home, it’s easy to have meals at weird times of the day and to go to bed much later than we’re used to. When it comes to work, the act of traveling to an office and traveling back home is really helpful, creating a “work” mode and a “home” mode for you. Now that we don’t have that, create something that does that job, whether it’s drinking your morning coffee by the window or taking a shower after work.

Create a new routine

If the routine you’ve built throughout quarantine has outgrown its effectiveness, create a new one. Shuffle your showers and workouts, providing a new structure to your days that might help reboot your productivity. Sometimes even a change as simple as switching the spot where you’re working from can help you feel different and better.

Try to complete basic healthy tasks

Pet sitting — Photo by Roberto Nickson (@g) via Unsplash

By now you’ve probably read a million different articles that explain how important it is to work out, eat healthy and stay on top of your hygiene. On days where you’re feeling down, it’s especially important to continue to practice these activities.

Did Marijuana Users Spend Their Stimulus Checks On Weed?

Brendan Bures

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May 6, 2020

0

Did Marijuana Users Spend Their Stimulus Checks On Weed?

One cannabis intelligence firm declared April 15 “far and away the biggest Wednesday in the history of legal cannabis,” due to stimulus checks.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And when the federal government gifts you a free $1,200 check, buy marijuana. Previous data showed a marijuana sales bump coincided with the coronavirus pandemic in late March, as cannabis users stockpiled products in fear of dispensaries closing. More recent data elicits a new trend — using stimulus checks to celebrate 4/20.

Cannabis intelligence firms have reported an abnormal boost in sales for April 15, the first day Americans could receive stimulus checks, accounting for normal spending increases around 4/20.

Headset Analytics tracked data in several key U.S. cannabis markets prior to the week of 4/20 and compared sales to those in Canadian markets. Retailers typically expect a steady increase in the week prior to the marijuana holiday, with a bigger boost in sales on 4/20 itself. That didn’t happen this year. Instead, Headset saw dramatic sales jumps in Nevada, Oregon, Washington, California, and Colorado on April 15.

Comparing weekday sales to the week prior, Colorado had a 51% increase in cannabis sales. Oregon and Washington saw sales climb 47% and 43%, respectively. In Canada’s Alberta province, there was only a 13% growth in sales.

The Truth About MMJ Card Protection In Employment — Photo by Scott Olson/Staff/Getty Images

“In [Alberta] we see sales in fact slightly elevated but not nearly in the same manner as in the US states leading us to conclude that at least a portion of the sales surge on 4/15 was due to stimulus check spending,” Headset analysts wrote.

Akerna, a cannabis compliance provider and intelligence operator, declared April 15 “far and away the biggest Wednesday in the history of legal cannabis” in their business reports. Their data found that total revenue and ticket size (or, the number of products someone purchased) were up over 50% compared to a total Wednesday in 2020.

Online marijuana sales were up as well. Jane Technologies, which collected data from more than 1,300 cannabis retailers through its e-commerce platform, reported a 45% increase in sales on April 15 compared to average weekday sales during the pandemic. Springbig, an industry marketing platform with more than 16 million users, saw even higher numbers, with a 63% bump on that day.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

Taking CBD For The First Time? Here Are Some Quick Basics

CBD products are very popular but the industry is still changing. Here are the basics you should know before using CBD for the first time.

Where to start?

What’s the right dosage?

How do you know if it’s working?

Too Many Quarantinis? How CBD Can Curb Day Drinking

The stress and boredom of the pandemic has spiked alcohol sales all over the country. Here’s how CBD can help you manage your intake.

How Drug Use Is Changing For Better—And Worse—Under Quarantine

While social drug use is expected to fall, experts worry the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the opioid epidemic.

What To Know Before Visiting A Marijuana Dispensary

Marijuana dispensaries are usually friendly places. Still, there’s some basics you should know before making your first visit.

Have your ID and some cash

Ask yourself what you’re looking for

Be open with your budtender

Wait until you’re home to consume

Joe Biden Adds Marijuana And Drug Reform To ‘Plan For Black America’ Agenda

Joe Biden updated his marijuana stance this week, although some advocates say the former VP hasn’t gone far enough.

Why Would-Be Dads Should Reconsider Marijuana Use In Quarantine

Sex and marijuana use are on the rise in lockdown. And according to science, the two don’t always mix.

Is It Safe To Send Flowers And Gifts For Mother’s Day During Coronavirus?

Special dates make it more challenging for people to celebrate and remain socially distanced.

Look for contactless delivery options

Trust the business you’re buying from

Be extra careful

Surgery and Marijuana Use

Before you consume marijuana to calm your nerves, here are three things you should know before undergoing surgery.

“Using cannabis right before surgery may add strain to the heart, which can elevate the risk for heart attack or stroke. While we don’t know all the risk factors present with cannabis, we do know that great conversations can lead to better patient experiences.” – Michael Philbin, MD

Cannabis over opioids: Better options are becoming available

5 Things You Can Do If You Have ‘Working From Home Fatigue’

A lot of people are completely drained working from home these days. Here’s what you can do to improve your productivity.

Take it easy on yourself

Relaxation techniques

Find something that’ll help you start & end your work day

Create a new routine

Try to complete basic healthy tasks

Did Marijuana Users Spend Their Stimulus Checks On Weed?

One cannabis intelligence firm declared April 15 “far and away the biggest Wednesday in the history of legal cannabis,” due to stimulus checks.

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