Last year, 578 kilograms of medical marijuana were sold to patients in Italy, and it is estimated the sum will be much bigger for 2019.
Medical marijuana production in Italy may triple in 2020 as the government aims to lesser its reliance on imports, according to Marijuana Business Daily.
The only organization with the license to cultivate medical cannabis in Italy, Stabilimento Chimico Farmaceutico di Firenze (SCFF), was recently authorized by Italy’s health ministry to produce 500 kilograms of cannabis flower in 2020, the publication said.
This year’s production is reportedly expected to total less than 200 kilograms.
Last year, 578 kilograms of medical marijuana were sold to patients in Italy, and it is estimated the sum will be much bigger for 2019. This indicates that domestic production has not met the demand in the country.
“Imports will continue to be needed because planned domestic production won’t be enough,” Giuseppe Libutti, an Italian business lawyer, told Marijuana Business Daily.
SCFF and the Italian region of Tuscany joined together to work on the production of medical cannabis and to produce evidence of its efficacy and safety, Marijuana Business Daily reported.
Massachusetts lifts vaping sales ban, Montana to enforce moratorium in latest state-by-state developments
A temporary ban on vaping product sales in Massachusetts was announced in September by Gov. Charlie Baker. The ban was initially set to end Dec. 24, but Baker decided to end it earlier on Dec. 11, according to Boston NPR affiliate WBUR.
“We were comfortable stepping back from the ban because the legislature created a series of restrictions around access to vaping products, especially for kids, and gave the Department of Public Health some pretty broad latitude to regulate the product and make sure people understand the risks going forward,” Baker said.
Multistate cannabis operator iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. (CSE:IAN) ITHUF 3.41% said Tuesday its Massachusetts subsidiary Mayflower Medicinals, Inc. will soon resume vaping sales.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission restarted the sale of vaping products by state-licensed operators, but only for products that produced on or after Dec. 12 that have been tested for vitamin E acetate and other contaminants, including heavy metals, the company said.
Vitamin E acetate has never been used in the manufacture of iAnthus vaping products, the company said.
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New York State Resumes Ban On Flavored Vaping Liquids
The New York State health department’s Public Health and Health Planning Council voted in favor of renewing an emergency ban on flavored e-liquids Thursday, according to CNN Health.
The extended ban is effective for another 90 days, prohibiting the sale of all flavored e-liquids except tobacco and menthol.
Nevertheless, the ban is not in effect at the moment due to the pending litigations by vape store owners who argue the ban will crush their businesses, according to CNN.
Montana To Enforce Vape Ban Despite Pending Lawsuit
Montana’s health department announced Friday it will start enforcing its emergency ban on flavored vaping product sales starting Dec. 18, reports Montana Public Radio.
A temporary restraining order that stopped the ban from taking effect expired Oct. 28, the agency said.
The state is awaiting a ruling by Ravalli County District Judge Jennifer Lint on a motion by industry groups that are demanding a preliminary injunction against the ban, the radio station reported.
Ralph Graybill, chief legal counsel to Gov. Steve Bullock, said the state can’t wait for a decision any longer.
Vape Businesses Closing In Washington Due To Ban
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board reported that a minimum of 377 vape businesses have discontinued their licenses for vaping products since October, when the state’s ban on flavored vaping products took effect, according to King 5 News.
Michigan Governor Asks State Supreme Court To Reestablish Flavored Vape Ban
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has asked the state’s Supreme Court to invalidate a court order that is halting Michigan’s temporarily ban on flavored vaping products, according to MLive.
Researchers believe CBD provides a chemical pathway in the human body that leads to healthier “bodily systems”—manifesting psychologically due to psychosomatic relations of the human mind and body.
When one thinks about the psychological landscape of contemporary America, stories of PTSD and disturbing behavior abound. Furthermore, through the mass media, the people of the United States are continuously inundated images of violence, sickness, and despair. Looking at these notions with a critical eye, there is an underlying string of connectivity between mental illness and its subsequent manifestations in violent acts.
The catchphrase “mental illness” is an umbrella term that denotes an array of psychological afflictions including: anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and ADD. Moreover, studies show that “over 43 million Americans suffer from some form of mental illness, amounting to over 18% of US adults.”. While the United States stands out as a society saturated with psychological disorders, studies show mental illness as the “third leading cause of illness” globally.
The current state-of-affairs concerning mental illness and its treatments is wound up in a precarious situation concerning pharmaceutical drugs like Paxil, Zoloft, Xanax, and Klonopin — the drugs are often addictive and have dangerous side effects. To add insult to injury, when mentally ill people stop taking these prescribed medications they are often times more mentally unstable than before usage. Unfortunately, withdrawals from pharmaceutical anti-depressants and anti-psychotics sometimes lead to violent acts and suicide.
As the use of medical marijuana is becoming gradually accepted by mainstream America, medical researchers are exploring the uses of the herb’s various chemical compounds in more detail. To illustrate, THC is the primary psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant; THC has a wide variety of medical applications but generally does not alleviate mental illnesses as it causes anxiety and panic in many users. However, cannabis’s non-psychoactive compound CBD is gaining more traction as a viable, non-psychoactive, non-addictive treatment for a variety of mental disorders.
Photo by Xavier Sotomayor via Unsplash
Many scientists speculate that CBD is beneficial for those who sufferer from mental health conditions because it makes endogenous (created in the human body) compounds of the endocannabinoid system (a vast nervous system in the human body) more readily available. Point being, researchers believe CBD provides a chemical pathway in the human body that leads to healthier “bodily systems”—manifesting psychologically due to psychosomatic relations of the human mind and body.
Case Studies: PTSD
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a psychological ailment that is beginning to gain the attention of CBD researchers. Symptoms of PTSD are exhibited in individuals who have experienced trauma and abuse in their lifetimes—the disorder is most noteworthy in military veterans and accident survivors.
CBD has proven beneficial in people with PTSD as it reportedly helps curb manifestations of both depression and anxiety related to traumatic events without the debilitating side effects of pharmaceutical medications. CBD’s effectiveness concerning PTSD is evident in the facts that States like Arizona are now recognizing PTSD as an ailment that warrants legal access to medical marijuana.
Kent Gruetzmacher M.F.A. is a Colorado based freelance writer and the Director of Business Development at Mac & Fulton Talent Partners (www.mandfconsultants.com), a recruiting firm dedicated to the indoor gardening and cannabis space. He is interested in utilizing his M.A. in the Humanities to critically explore the many cultural and business facets of this youthful, emergent industry by way of his entrepreneurial projects.
Everything you do reflects something about your personality. Here’s what your consumption methods have to say about you.
Thanks to marijuana’s partial legalization, there’s plenty of ways to get high. You can vape, smoke joints, eat an edible, you name it. This means that your choices in product and methodology reveal something deeper than how you like to consume marijuana; it sheds a light on your personality traits. This isn’t hard science, but we believe this list is pretty accurate. Here is what your marijuana consumption method says about you.
Joints
There are many methods of smoking marijuana, but there’s something special about smoking a joint. If you’re going through the trouble of purchasing rolling papers, weed, and filters before even getting to the main attraction of rolling a joint, it means that you likely appreciate the little things. Smoking weed for you is a habit that allows you to be in control. That or you’re kind of old and don’t feel like switching things up this late in the game.
If you’re an avid CBD consumer it means that you’re into trendy things and know what’s up. You’re probably a vegan, are super health conscious and like to put sweaters on your dog.
Pipe
If you smoke from a pipe it probably means that you’re too lazy to do anything better with your weed. You might be in college, your weed likely sucks, and your habit is temporary or at least recently acquired. In a couple of years you’ll either move on to better things or drop the habit entirely.
If you’re over 25 and still own a bong it means that you’re a pot head, and have likely been one for a while, especially if the device is shamelessly displayed in your home. Bongs are kind of pricey so you probably are a habitual smoker who likes to get high with the good stuff. As long as you don’t own one of those bong masks you should be fine.
Edibles
Like people who smoke joints, people who regularly consume edibles know what they’re doing and likely won’t go though a bad edible trip. Edible eaters honor their weed and are willing to spend a good amount of money for a valuable high. If they prepare their own edibles they might also be bakers.
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Hot Box
If you’re hot boxing it means that you’re a teen and love to call attention to yourself, making your parents worry about you. If you’re not a teen and you still do this, you should consider rethinking your life decisions.
Bees love hemp. The taller the plant, the greater the number of bees that flock to it, so says a new study.
Most of us learn in high school biology class about the mutual friendship bees maintain with flowers. However, you might be surprised to learn that bees have developed a similar relationship with hemp. In fact, the bigger the hemp plant, the more bees that flock to it.
Hemp production has spread across the country following its legalization by the 2018 Farm Bill, which is why scientists at Cornell University wanted to better understand the agricultural and environmental impact such aggressive hemp production could have. Up until this recent study, the exact nature of a bee’s relationship with hemp flowers has remained unclear.
The study, published in the Environmental Entomology journal, determined a strong correlation between higher hemp plant heights and the abundance, as well as the diversity of bees visiting them. Plants at least two meters tall attracted nearly 17 times the number of bees as their shorter counterparts. In the northeastern United States alone, hemp could support 16 different varieties of bee species, which the agricultural community should remember moving forward.
“As cultivation of hemp increases, growers, land managers, and policy makers should consider its value in supporting bee communities and take its attractiveness to bees into account when developing pest management strategies,” state the study’s authors.
Photo by Damien TUPINIER via Unsplash
Researchers made repeated sweep collections of 11 different farms in New York state. Among the most commonly captured were mellifera (60%), more commonly known as the European honey bee, and impatiens (30%), common eastern bumblebees. The study emphasized that hemp could provide essential nutrient resources for bees at times of floral scarcity, particularly in late summer when many bee-pollinated plants perish.
If you were worried about consuming cannabinoid-rich pollen, and whether bees would suddenly start crafting THC-abundant honey, the study’s authors assure you not to worry.
They found the presence of cannabinoids, particularly tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in hemp pollen is “not likely to have an impact on bee development due to the loss of cannabinoid receptors in insects.”
Thanks to the internet, we’re in touch with an unending stream of music. Here’s how you can find some songs you love.
There’s an endless amount of places where you can discover new music, be that from having a friend who’s an expert, listening to Spotify Discover, browsing online or knowing the right websites to follow. There are no wrong ways to go about it, but there’s never a thing as having too much music to listen to, especially if you’re a person who really enjoys their time spent with some headphones on.
Here are 5 easy ways to find new music.
Browse “best of” lists
If you have a genre you love or if you want to take a deep dive of something specific, like music of the 70s, “best of” lists are the most direct way of achieving your means. While it’s unlikely that you’ll become an expert in a genre from reading through a few of these lists, they make for the perfect way to discover new artists and songs. Websites like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork are known for their great lists, even if both have very different musical tastes.
Follow music websites
Music criticism is very fun, especially if you find a website or a critic that you like and start keeping up with their content. Pitchfork releases daily reviews of tracks and records, even if they tend to veer towards less commercial music; Rolling Stone is a bit more broad and wide reaching; There’s also NPR, Uproxx, The Guardian. We also publish a weekly music column.
Music apps like Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Shazam, Soundcloud, 8Tracks, Musyc are among the most well regarded, and we’re just scratching the surface of what’s out there. These apps are different in they way they operate, having different pros and cons, but they all succeed in providing you with some new music.
Use TV shows for inspiration
The era of Peak TV means that there’s a stressful amount of shows to chose from, but one good side effect of having all of this content is that there’s tons of new music you can encounter. Different kinds of shows have different kinds of soundtracks, with teen shows usually releasing up and coming songs and with premium channels offering some hidden gems. Keep an ear out while watching your favorite show and have your Shazam at the ready!
Soundcloud and Shazam are your best tools for moments when you’re out in a bar or a coffee shop and you listen to a really amazing snippet of a song. You might discover that it’s just a song with a great chorus or something truly awesome. There’s also concerts, the radio, recommendations from friends and your favorite singers.
Following a stalled vote in the Legislature, New Jersey is putting recreational marijuana legalization in hands of voters.
New Jersey residents will decide whether the state will legalize recreational marijuana in the 2020 Election. The question was placed on the ballot following votes in the New Jersey Assembly and Senate, both of which approved the measure by supermajorities.
The move follows a years-long push by Gov. Phil Murphy, who ran on a platform of marijuana legalization, for lawmakers to end prohibition in the state. Senate President Stephen Sweeney proposed placing the measure in New Jersey voters’ hands, after learning he did not have enough support in the Senate to push through legalization.
“While we are disappointed the legislature did not directly legalize marijuana, we are optimistic that 2020 will be the year New Jersey replaces its eight-decade-long experiment with marijuana prohibition with a more thoughtful and humane approach,” Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies at the Marijuana Policy Project, said in a statement. “Marijuana prohibition has derailed thousands of lives in New Jersey, while driving marijuana production and sales to the sometimes dangerous illicit market.”
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Prior to receiving a place on the ballot, the measure requires final approval from Gov. Murphy. Recent polls indicate demonstrate that more than 60% of New Jersey residents approve of adult-use marijuana legislation. If passed, New Jersey would join the 11 states, plus the District of Columbia, to legalize recreational cannabis.
“In addition to putting the question before voters, it’s critical that policymakers also incorporate measures to repair the harms of prohibition in implementing legislation going forward,” Maria McFarland Sanchez-Moreno, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, said in a statement. “Expungement of past marijuana-related offenses is a key component of that, and it’s encouraging that policymakers are making progress on that front.”
According to the Marijuana Policy Project, New Jersey may not be the only state on the East coast to push adult-use marijuana legalization in the 2020 election. Movements in states like New York, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Connecticut have all gained momentum heading into next year, and could push the question onto the ballot as well.
A new study found among the 30,000 overdoses reported in 2016 for people ages 12-21, 30% of cases involved prescription opioids.
Doctors might want to reconsider how they prescribe opioid medications to teenagers. According to a new study by University of Michigan scientists, young adults could suffer from the same overdose risk factors as adults. Through data analysis, researchers were able to determine adolescents experience the same rate of opioid overdoses as do adults.
The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found one in 10,000 young people ages 12-21 will overdose while under active opioid prescriptions. That is the same rate adults suffer within 30 days of surgery. Previous studies reported 1 in 8 adolescents are prescribed opioids each year. Among the 30,000 overdoses reported in 2016 for people ages 12-21, 30% of cases involved prescription opioids.
“Our knowledge of risk factors for prescription opioid overdose comes mostly from studies of middle-aged and elderly patients, particularly U.S. Veterans. There is little data about risk factors for overdose specifically in adolescents and young adults,” lead author Kao-Ping Chua said in a statement.
“These numbers highlight the importance of mitigating overdose risk when prescribing opioids to adolescents and young adults,” he added.
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Researchers compiled data from 2.8 million privately insured patients ages 12-21 who had been prescribed opioids and did not have cancer between 2009 and 2017. The study found pre-existing risk factors could determine the likelihood an adolescent might suffer a drug overdose. Their analysis reported patients with a recent mental health diagnosis accounted for half of overdoses, and patients with a substance use disorder for a quarter of overdoses.
Chua described mental health as “a growing crisis among youth,” as more adolescents receive diagnoses for anxiety and depression. With that comes increased responsibility doctors have to screen possible candidates before prescribing opioids.
Researchers also expressed the importance of avoiding prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines. According to previous research, adults ages 18-29 report the highest abuse of benzodiazepines. While this study didn’t include a large number of patients receiving these prescriptions concurrently, the authors determined using opioids and benzos simultaneously was one the of the highest risk factors for overdoses.
Said Chua, “Our findings suggest that clinicians can mitigate overdose risk in adolescents and young adults by using the lowest amount of opioid possible, relying on short-acting opioids, and avoiding the concurrent use of opioids and benzodiazepines.”
Unlike a vitamin or other supplement, CBD can offer anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties that have benefits millions of people around the globe can enjoy.
Cannabidiol (CBD) seems to be the cannabinoid of the hour, not just because it’s legal across the U.S. and has no psychoactive properties, but also because of a variety of benefits that stem from its interaction with our endocannabinoid systems.
We have many — many, as in uncountable — cannabinoid receptors spread throughout our bodies and when we ingest cannabis or a derivative thereof the cannabinoids bind to said receptors and interact with our bodies and minds in a variety of ways. While CBD is often referred to as the “medicinal” cannabinoid, it’s a little more complicated than that.
When THC is introduced in the form of whole plant cannabis or as a combination of THC and CBD, there is what’s called an “entourage effect.” This “entourage effect” is where patients reap the bulk of cannabis’s medical benefits, far more powerful than ingesting CBD alone.
Isolated CBD still gets a lot of attention, however, and for good reason. Its comparison to a vitamin or supplement is the closest description of its protective benefits, but it also can offer anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties that have benefits that millions of people around the globe can enjoy. (But with a little THC it still works a helluva lot better.)
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Because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties it is often used in facial creams and make-up, as it anecdotally acts as a treatment and preventative measure for acne. It can also be used in pain relieving creams, especially those that are supplemented by other healing herbs and components like menthol. These creams are excellent in easing muscular pain, like cramps, and minor arthritic pain.
For those suffering from chronic pain who don’t want to get lifted or who live in a “dry” state, using a CBD tincture in conjunction with any creams is an excellent idea. The CBD goes to the receptors where it’s needed most when ingested orally and benefit the body whole. Some say that CBD can even help regulate blood pressure, though more studies need to be conducted before such claims can be substantiated with solid evidence.
Still, if CBD is helping whatever it is that ails you or that it was recommended to treat, then more power to you. It is an innocuous supplement and available in head shops everywhere. You can find it in enough forms to satisfy any consumption preference, from vaping to edibles to tinctures to creams and salves.
If you live in a legal cannabis state, try using CBD with some THC in it. Depending on the amount of THC, you can still avoid getting “high,” while receiving the benefits of the CBD.
Let go of movie theaters and indoor board games. Here are 5 new date ideas that will allow you to make the most of the winter season.
A lot of people hate the winter. Although there are plenty of drawbacks that come with the season — depression, the fact that it gets dark super early, the freezing temperatures — there’s also a lot of good stuff: snow, hot toddies, hot chocolate, cuddling and mistletoe. In fact, some could argue that winter is the most romantic season of the year.
Now that the sun is out of the equation, you’re going to have to get creative with your dates, which is why we compiled this list. We tried our best to steer clear from stereotypical indoor activities since that defeats the purpose of winter being the most romantic season.
Here are five winter date ideas that actually celebrate the cold:
Sledding
You saw this one coming, but it’s still a great idea. What’s a more memorable way of spending time with a new person than to be close to them in situations that feel somehow life threatening? Sledding is not dangerous but you will likely be scared. Afterwards you can have some food or hot cocoa and make the date one of the most memorable ones you’ve ever had.
Wine tasting
You don’t have to be a wine expert or travel to a vineyard in order to enjoy some decent wine samples. Plus, a lot of tasting rooms aren’t very busy during the colder months, which means more wine time for you! Look for places nearby that are hosting wine tastings and make this the first stop of your date. (Pro tip: Many tasting rooms with outdoor areas have fire pits during the winter.) This is an especially great first date idea, because if you still like the person after having a couple of drinks, they just may be a keeper!
Mini golf is awesome, no matter the season. If your outdoors location is closed, go to an indoor spot. If it’s open, bundle up and get ready to have some winter fun. Try to choose a day of the month that isn’t freezing, just pleasantly cold so that your date doesn’t get frostbite.
Holiday shopping
Holiday shopping is exhausting and nerve wrecking, which is why you might need some company. Try to lessen the pressure and take it easy. This is a date preferably done with someone with whom you’ve spent some time with, just so you don’t freak them out, but it’s also pretty cool if you choose to go to a holiday market or something like that. These places tend to have stuff you can buy and delicious food.
Ice skating is the best for people who are flexible, and the worst for people with two left feet. Still, it’s a pretty fun experience for all if you let it be one, providing a healthy workout and a perfect opportunity to laugh, be silly and hold each other’s hands. Ice skating is a classic winter date for a reason. Trust cliches.
