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What You Should Know About CBD Topicals

CBD topicals have made their mark on the beauty and wellness industry despite legal limitations.

There are hundreds of CBD brands making topicals, ranging from beauty products to pain relief lotions and balms. While there’s a lot of misinformation surrounding CBD, from its lack of scientific research to its inclusion in random and purposeless products, the compound’s effect on topicals stands on solid ground. Beloved by celebrities, beauty stores and experts alike, CBD topicals are your best bet if you’re hoping to reap some of the benefits of CBD.

Here’s a quick list that can help you make the best of these kinds of products:

They’re legal

Although CBD’s legal standing is extremely confusing, topicals are sold throughout the country. CBD falls under the same category as hemp, which was legalized in the 2018 Farm bill, and can be sold in most states as long as it contains less than 0.3 percent of THC. While the FDA doesn’t approve of the compound, topicals aren’t eaten, so we’re all good with this form of CBD.

They can be used for different purposes

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RELATED: 8 Things To Know Before Using Cannabis Topicals

There’s a good amount of variety within the world of CBD topicals, which includes balms, serums, body oils, lotions, facial creams and the like. These products can be used to treat inflammation, pain, heal surface cuts, hydrate skin and prevent puffy skin.

There are different kinds

There’s plenty of terms used to classify CBD in these products. The most important ones you should know are full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate. Full spectrum refers to CBD products that contain all of the plant’s cannabinoids, including THC; broad spectrum contains most cannabinoids, but almost no THC; and isolate products contain pure CBD.

Take your time before you buy your product

can cbd lotion help hives
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Due to the mayhem that is the CBD industry, there’s plenty of differences across CBD product lines. Some companies make great CBD topicals while others exploit the state of the industry, making products that contain hemp over CBD, contain trace amounts of the compound or make grandiose statements. If you want to learn more about buying CBD, we’ve got you covered.

More research is necessary

While there have been no side effects associated with topical CBD products, there have been some negative side effects in its ingested form, like diarrhea, drowsiness and more. It’s also important to remember that most of the evidence of the product’s effects is anecdotal. Their positive effects might be a placebo, induced by peer pressure and extensive news coverage.

What You Should Know About THCP And CBDP

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The discovery of new and improved cannabinoids means that our knowledge of cannabis’s medicinal capabilities is expanding.

Just when we thought we were learning more about cannabis and its compounds, the strongest cannabinoid yet steps into the spotlight. THCP, recently discovered by a group of Italian scientists, is said to be 30 times stronger than THC, expanding on cannabis’s medicinal potential. There’s also CBDP, another cannabinoid discovered by these same scientists which, as its name suggests, is very similar to CBD.

The discovery of new and improved cannabinoids will surely lend itself to grand statements and miraculous super powers (like it has happened with CBD), but this also means that our knowledge of cannabis’s medicinal capabilities is expanding, and that we can learn more about how the plant works and interacts with our bodies.

Here’s what you should know about these two cannabinoids:

THCP

THCP has a unique structure that allows it to produce much stronger effects than THC. Unlike regular THC which has a five link side chain in its molecule structure, THCP has seven links, and because of this, “it’s been reported that it has an immense affinity for binding with CB1 receptors, which are primarily found in the brain and body and help regulate anxiety, stress, pain relief, mood, happiness, and more,” cannabis author Jaime Evans tells Well + Good.

“In addition, these new studies have also shown that THCP might also be five to 10 times more active than THC on the CB2 receptors, which help modulate inflammation and pain, help our immune response to pathogens, and protect against bone loss in the body as we age.”

CBD & THC Oils Are Popular But Most Cannabis Ends Up Going To Waste
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RELATED: The Discovery Of A Cannabinoid 30 Times Stronger Than THC Isn’t All Good

The discovery of THCP could also help us understand why cannabis works so differently depending on who’s ingesting it. For many years scientists worked off the assumption that most of cannabis’ psychotropic effect came from THC; now that THCP is in the picture, researchers can approach these questions from new directions.

CBDP

CBDP has been studied even less than THCP, but one thing researchers have discovered is that, like THCP, the compound also has a seven-link molecule structure. But because CBD has poor binding ability with CB1 and CB2 receptors, it’s unlikely that CBDP will produce stronger results.

RELATED: 5 Of The Most Promising Cannabinoids For 2020

While this makes the discovery of the compound less impactful as the THCP findings, there’s always room for surprise, especially since these new elements allow us to get a clearer picture of cannabis.

Scientists Confirms Psychedelics At Music Festivals Makes You Happier

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Those under the influence of alcohol or opioids did not report the same ‘transformative experiences’ psychedelic users did at music festivals.

Psychedelics have an array of therapeutic potential in treating mood and psychiatric disorders, laboratory research has shown. Many people don’t typically use psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin mushrooms in laboratory settings, though. So a group of Yale scientists decided to go where they reasoned individuals typically consume psychedelics “in the wild” — music festivals.

In these field studies, the researchers found psychedelic users experienced an increase in “transformative experiences.” This was loosely defined as a significant re-orientation of someone’s personal belief system or priorities that didn’t seem possible before taking the psychedelic. These substances also delivered an enhanced connection to community and others and an improvement in mental well-being. These positive effects remained true for users even when the drugs wore off.

RELATED: Sorry, But Science Doesn’t Favor Microdosing Psychedelics

“Our results show that people who take psychedelics ‘in the wild’ report positive experiences very similar to those observed in controlled laboratory studies,” Yale postdoctoral fellow Matthias Forstmann said.

first study on the benefits and drawbacks of microdosing lsd
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These Yale scientists interviewed over 1,200 people at half a dozen music festivals throughout the United States and United Kingdom. Led by senior author and assistant professor of psychology Molly Crockett, the team asked attendees not currently under the influence of psychedelics to describe their recent social interactions, mood, and what substances they’d been using. The goal was to capture the “afterglow” of psychedelic experiences in the field and recognize the linger psychological effects of these substances.

The most pronounced effects were in users who had taken psychedelics within the past 24 hours. Those who drank alcohol or under the influence of drugs like cocaine and opioids didn’t report the “transformative experiences” psychedelic users did, nor did they experience an increased connectedness with others or dramatic mood improvements. Those who abstained from drugs altogether also did not have these feelings.

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Crockett added the study was not designed to asses negative reactions or physiological effects in users. More research is necessary to better understand how environmental factors affect these results and what impact the choice of psychedelic substance has on users.

“We are encouraged that our study is consistent with previous laboratory findings showing mood benefits of psychedelics in healthy people and in patients suffering from anxiety and depression,” Crockett said.

Is Vaping CBD Dangerous?

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The lack of FDA approval and research prevents CBD product makers from developing certified products, keeping the industry from growing and exposing millions of people to great risk.

Last year saw the outbreak of a lung disease that affected a large percentage of tobacco and THC vape consumers. As of December 2019, the illness had affected over 2,000 people, killing more than 50. Are CBD vapes exempt from this disease?

Fortunately, after a couple of months of investigation, researchers found that the chemical responsible for the chronic lung disease was vitamin E acetate. This chemical was used to dilute oils in vape devices and lead to the CDC warning against the use of all vape products, including CBD, THC and nicotine. Afterwards, the CDC only warned people against using THC vape products obtained through the black market, since these were the ones linked with the most lung injuries.

RELATED: 5 Things About CBD Cigarettes You Should Know

But new data says that experts still don’t understand how vaping works and how it can damage our lungs, no matter the compound that’s being inhaled. Consumer Reports says that at least 26 people were hospitalized after using a CBD vape product. While these cases might be caused by the vitamin E acetate, they could also be caused by CBD or the act of vaping in itself.

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The mystery that surrounds CBD and vaping products in general is alarming for a lot of industry experts. For starters, it’s unknown what these products do to people in the long term. CBD finds itself in a strange place, forming a key part of a growing industry, yet still having no FDA clearance that ensures that the products in circulation are safe and are following a set pattern.

When it comes to vaping, experts say it’s not a healthier option than tobacco and that there are also chemical reactions that occur when vape pens go through their combustion process. According to Consumer Reports, “Heating propylene glycol can create formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and acetaldehyde, a possible carcinogen, both of which are also present in cigarette smoke.”

RELATED: Will The FDA’s Ban On E-Cigarettes Affect CBD Vaping Devices?

The lack of FDA approval and research prevents CBD product makers from developing certified products, keeping the industry from growing and exposing millions of people to great risk. As it stands, when the FDA bans different vape flavors and products because of the risk they represent, CBD remains in a separate bubble, allowing people to purchase these products, think they’re harmless and not learn about all the risks until they read the news.

America Can Probably Forget About Federal Marijuana Legalization Anytime Soon

Cannabis supporters believe Sanders is their best shot at getting the issue of marijuana reform some solid representation in the White House.

The cannabis community could be heard screeching like a pack of teenage girls on Tuesday night the second it was announced that Democrat Bernie Sanders had won the New Hampshire primary. It was a small victory that could have enormous implications for the legalization of marijuana at the federal level — something that Sanders has sworn he’ll do on his first day in office.

So, yeah, eeeekkk!

Until now, many thought that Sanders was doomed to take it on the chin just like he did four years ago when he got passed over by the DNC for Hilary Clinton. But the fact that he made such a slam dunk this past week in the Granite State with 25.7% of the votes, well, that just solidified to many of his supporters that he could be the one the Democrats send after Trump. 

Cannabis supporters are hopeful, too, that Sanders will be the man. They believe he is their best shot at getting the issue of marijuana reform some solid representation in the White House.

All of this optimism is because, right before the Iowa Caucus, Sanders told his supporters: “On my first day in office, through executive order, we will legalize marijuana in every state in this country.” 

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Never mind that Sanders couldn’t actually step in as president and just legalize marijuana — that’s not possible through an executive order, and he could not force any state to legalize weed — but the fact that he is champing at the bit to end decades of marijuana prohibition in this country would undoubtedly be a huge weapon in the arsenal of the cannabis movement. This is especially true if the Democrats end up gaining control of both the House and the Senate — all of which is possible this election. But that’s precisely what could sabotage Sanders’ pursuit for the nomination.

bernie sanders blasts marijuana prohibition in his new book
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Sure, Sanders showed the nation this week that he has the strength to take on Donald Trump in November 2020. But it’s called politics for a reason, folks. The Democrats are still not sold on Sanders as their candidate. They are worried that his self-described socialist ideas are just dripping with too much liberal enthusiasm to secure the win in those states he needs to claim the presidency.

The Democrats are looking at the big picture this year, and they are worried that Sanders could screw them on their chance to take over Congress. Seriously, Democrats fear that nominating Sanders for the ticket could be enough to drive away suburban voters and cut them short on the support needed to put them in control of the Senate. Ironically enough, it’s the reason that people like Bernie could end up cutting his own throat. Just ask Rep. Anthony Brindisi (N.Y), who is up against Republican Claudia Tenney again this year. He’s simply not confident in Sanders’ ability to win over America.

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“My preference would be to see a more moderate candidate at the top of the ticket — someone who reflects more of the districts that delivered the majority in 2018,” Brindisi told NBC News. “And I don’t think (Sanders) really represents that.” 

You see, more than the presidency, the Democrats desperately need those Senate seats this year. Without them, Republican-domination will continue to prevent them from accomplishing their agenda, including the legalization of marijuana. Last year, we watched the House push through a couple of bills aimed at changing the marijuana laws in this country. All of those efforts, however, were pretty much stopped dead in their tracks by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Much of the same shenanigans are expected this year. The House will move ahead on the issue, while the Senate will pump the brakes. Therefore, the Democrats must knock out the Republican competition if they want to move into their new Senate digs at the turn of 2021.  

Yet, if the party focuses only on winning the presidency, it could still find itself helpless for another six years.

RELATED: Trump To Remove Medical Marijuana Protections From Upcoming Budget

All of this means that we could likely see Joe Biden getting handed the nomination. Many Democrats believe that he’s going to resonate better with those voters who identify as Democrats but do not subscribe to Sanders’ socialist ways. And if that happens, the nation can forget about marijuana legalization anytime soon. Biden said recently that he would not legalize marijuana at the national level. But he’s since shifted his opinion a bit, saying “I think it is at the point where it has to be, basically, legalized,” according to Politico. What he really means by that, nobody knows.

All we are saying is, don’t be surprised if Sanders gets passed over again in 2020 for the Democratic nomination. Because that is probably what we are going to see happen.

Worker Compensation Claims Drop In Legal Marijuana States

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Medical marijuana laws create ripple effects beyond managing serious illnesses, such as decreasing workers compensation claims.

States legalize medical marijuana to help patients manage an array of major conditions, including cancer, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, and depression. Medical cannabis also allows individuals to manage minor injuries and general inflammation caused by their jobs. In turn, this could lead to a decline in workers’ compensation claims, a new study finds.

Published in Health Economics, the study highlights how medical marijuana laws create ripple effects beyond managing serious illnesses. By analyzing survey data between 1989 and 2012, researchers determined medical marijuana legalization causes a 6.7% decline in workers’ comp claims for workers ages 15 and older. There was also a modest decrease in the propensity to claim as well as the amount of money paid out by workers’ comp.

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“The findings suggest additional benefits to expanded access to medical marijuana: increased work capacity and less reliance on social insurance programs among workers,” said Johanna Catherine Maclean, a corresponding author on the study.

Medical marijuana created positive effects beyond workers comp claims, according to the study’s researchers. Older adults in medical marijuana states displayed increases in work capacity. In addition, the study reported reduced work absences and improved workplace safety as a result of medical marijuana’s effect on workers.

Last year, a study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy found that access to medical marijuana dropped the rate of workplace fatalities. “Legalizing medical marijuana was associated with a 19.5% reduction in the expected number of workplace fatalities among workers aged 25–44,” the study reported.

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Making workplaces safer and lowering the amount companies pay out in workers’ comp claims seems like a win-win for both parties involved. Researchers behind the study agree.

“Policymakers may wish to consider these benefits when considering medical marijuana regulation,” Maclean said.

Detoxifying: How Soaking Can Help Your Skin And Spirit

If you’re low on time but want to get a jolt of a water’s healing power to help conquer winter’s ill-effects, consider using steam and a warm compress.

What is it about water? Since the dawn of time, humans have used water to relax and sooth. Oftentimes at our most stressed, we look to water to refuel our emotional and spiritual health. There’s something about the calming sensation of the sound of water or the smell of the ocean. Could water really heal — inside and out?

Science seems to think so. After all, Hawaii has earned its prize in Gallup’s annual poll as a top place to live more than six times. Wallace Nichols, author of Blue Mind, explained it to Quartz like this, “Most communities are built near bodies of water not just for practical reasons, but because as humans, we’re naturally drawn to blue space…but even if you aren’t in an area where there is easy access to water, you can still experience [its] emotional benefits.”

If you’re low on time but want to get a jolt of a water’s healing power to help conquer winter’s ill-effects, consider using steam and a warm compress.

Try sitting in a bathroom while the shower steams. Even just a few minutes in a warm, steam-filled room can help clear your sinuses, rejuvenate breathing and calm your mind. Harvard Health believes steam can help directly with sinus pressure when breathing the steam in, helping to relax inflammation. 

RELATED: Want Better Sleep? Try Doing This 1-2 Hours Before Bedtime

A warm compress on the face can help wake-up the body for extra-early-morning alarms, while offering therapeutic benefits of water as well. 

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One of the best ways to incorporate water into your life is by staying hydrated by drinking 8 glasses a day, and taking a long, relaxing bath. Pentucket Medical believes that baths are underrated in their ability to transform health and alleviate pain and stress. Warm baths can raise the heart rate, oxygen levels, and help ease sore muscles and bones. 

Not only does a warm bath make the blood flow easier, it also makes it more oxygenated by allowing you to breathe deeper and slower, particularly when taking in steam. Taking a hot bath or spa can kill bacteria and improve immunity.”

Here are three things to remember when bathing for the maximum relief from Mayo Clinic:

Temperature matters: Mayo Clinic recommends warmer versus hotter temperatures for those suffering from dry skin in the winter. 

Shorter can be better: Citing the ability of very hot showers to remove oil from the skin, Mayo suggests limiting showers to under ten minutes for better outcomes.

Apply moisturizer after bathing: To take the effects of the bath or shower to-go, apply a moisturizer after bathing to take the hydration of water with you throughout the day.

A Guide To Buying CBD Online

With the amount of fake CBD products out there, finding the one you need can be a challenge. Here’s how to make the process easier.

CBD products is a very flexible compound. Treating a variety of conditions in noninvasive ways, CBD oils, gummies, lotions and more lend themselves to all kinds of consumers; they can satisfy curious onlookers and diehard believers alike.

To get the result you’re looking for, it’s important to know what you want from your CBD, be that anxiety or pain relief. Once you’ve got that covered, the rest is simple. The one thing you should be on the lookout for is fake CBD products, of which there are plenty. Due to the state of the business and the fact that the compound remains unregulated, there are a few extra steps you need to make in order to be careful and invest your money wisely.

Here’s a quick guide that can help you browse and shop for your perfect CBD:

Get educated

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Before you begin to shop, it’s important to learn what is CBD and what you want it to do for you. There are different kinds of oils, with many of them lending themselves to confusion. There are also plenty of ways of consuming CBD. You can ingest it orally, topically, and more. These consumption methods yield better results depending on the condition you’re treating. For example, if you’re treating a sore back, your best bet will be to choose some kind of topical.

Don’t trust Amazon

Big retailers, such as Amazon, Etsy and eBay, are not the best spot for you to get your CBD from. These websites haven’t been able to filter out fake products very well, hosting tons of them that advertise their features as miraculous or that might not even contain a useful amount of CBD.

If you want to purchase your CBD product through the web, it’s important to read up on these products from trusted websites. Look for guides published in reputable magazines and find brands that have numerous online reviews. When going through these, pay attention to the content; plenty of online reviews are bots, which reuse generic words and phrases.

Look for lab testing results

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Since CBD hasn’t been regulated by the FDA, it’s important for you to be extra careful. Look for certificates of analysis (COA), which ensure that a lab outside of the product-maker’s influence tested and approved the product. These certificates make sure there are no harmful chemicals or metals in your product, showing you some information that backs up the claims that the product is making.

Use common sense

As is the case with all online shopping, it’s important to buy from trusted sources and to be extra careful. Read online reviews, user comments, check for photos uploaded and through the product’s social media. The more information there is online, the higher the odds of the product meeting your expectations.

How High Will Edibles Make You

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A new study found that dividing packaging into approximate serving sizes helped users to avoid accidentally getting too high

Horror stories abound with edibles, mainly because beginners often misunderstand the effects of THC. If you include yourself among this group, you’re not alone. According to a new University of Waterloo study, not many cannabis consumers understand what the THC numbers on edibles mean or how high it could get them.

Researchers determined that symbols indicating whether an edible was strong or mild better helped users understand the potency of a given marijuana product. Dividing packaging into approximate serving sizes also helped users avoid getting too high and instead ingesting the targeted amount. Surveying nearly 1,000 Canadians ages 16 to 30, the study reported that most consumers could not identify whether an edible had “high” or “low” levels of THC based on current labeling standards.

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“We’ve known for many years that people struggle to understand the numbers on the back of food packages and cigarette packages,” said David Hammond, a co-author in the study. “Consumers seem to have equal or even more difficulty with THC numbers, which are used to indicate the potency of cannabis products.”

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Scientists ran two different experiments to analyze consumer knowledge of cannabis edibles. In the first, participants were asked how many servings were in a given edible package. Participants were either given a package with no label, a label that expressed THC content in milligrams (mgs), or a label that stated how many “doses” of THC there were in each product. Among those given a label with THC content in mgs, which is the industry standard, only 13.4% of respondents could determine a recommended serving. In contrast, 54.1% of those who were given labels with the number of doses per package and 7.1% of those who were given no label answered correctly.

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Scientists used a “traffic light system” labeling cannabis edibles in the second experiment. A “green” sticker symbolized “low” THC potency while red meant “high.” Using this system, 85% of participants correctly chose whether an edible had high or low THC. When using standard numerical THC values, only 33% of respondents were right in assessing high or low THC levels.

“Effective THC labelling and packaging could help reduce to accidental over-consumption of cannabis edibles and adverse events, which have increased in jurisdictions that have legalized recreational cannabis,” Hammond said.  “However, the findings suggest that consumers will need easier-to-understand THC information for other products, including oils, concentrates and dried flower.”

Protect Yourself From The Coronavirus While Traveling

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The prospect of coming into contact with people who carry the virus can make anyone a little nervous, which is why the World Health Organization is here to help.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused a lot of panic due to misinformation. Although there have been plenty of deaths associated with the virus (more than 1,300 and counting), it remains largely contained in China, not in your favorite Chinatown restaurant. About 2% of coronavirus cases have occurred in other countries. In fact, only 15 cases have been reported so far in the U.S..

Still, the prospect of traveling and coming into contact with people who carry the virus can make anyone a little nervous, which is why the World Health Organization answered a Q&A on the matter.

RELATED: 5 Ways To Stay Well When Everyone Else Is Getting Sick

Here’s what you should do to stay safe while flying, according to the WHO:

It’s okay to travel

Many airlines traveling to China have suspended their services, so it’s important to call and ask them any questions you may have if you’re planning an overseas trip. It’s most likely okay for you to travel though. Even if there’s higher odds of contacting any virus when in an airport or a crowded space (in this case both), the Coronavirus remains limited to China.

Act as if you’re protecting yourself from the flu

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There’s no need to go overboard and wear a face mask. The WHO recommends protecting yourself as if you were avoiding the seasonal flu. Wash your hands regularly and especially before eating, use hand sanitizer, cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow and avoid contact with people who are sick. If you’re sick, take special care of yourself and limit your contact with others. If you think you might have the Coronavirus, call your doctor.

Don’t panic

With every disease outbreak there’s always a flurry of panic. People go on TVs and wonder if the virus is a bioweapon or if it’s a pandemic that will kill us all. Instead of spreading panic, it’s important for everyone to get informed and to talk about the things that are truthful. Although the outbreak of the virus is a public health emergency, it’s still hasn’t reached pandemic levels and there’s still a lot of stuff we don’t know.

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