The swirl of myths around legal marijuana has been around since the 1920s and Reefer Madness, but now a new study ends one
In the 1930s the US went into a tizzy about cannabis. The government financed a movie named ‘Reefer Madness’ which laid the groundwork for a long term marijuana misconception. Part of the plot showed evidence of how the lives of four high school students, lured to try marijuana by a drug pusher, spiraled out of control. The movie included a hit and run accident, suicide, homicide, rape, and the rapid descent of marijuana users into madness. The evidence in Reefer Madness was later proven to be utterly false. But a myth was born.
Anti-marijuana advocates have long said legal marijuana would cause underage use to soar. It is agreed until the age of 21, the brain is still developing. Marijuana, along with alcohol and other drug use, has an impact. Unlike the Camel cigarette campaign, the cannabis industry has been careful to avoid promoting to kids. Now, data debunks major myth about legal marijuana and youth consumption.
Photo by VICTOR HABBICK VISIONS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images
The 2022 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, conducted by the University of Michigan with funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)—found that rates of past-year cannabis use “remained stable for all three grades surveyed,” remaining below pre-pandemic usage levels even as more state marijuana markets opened and expanded for adults.
“There have been no substantial increases at all,” Marsha Lopez, chief of NIDA’s epidemiological research branch. “In fact, they have not reported an increase in perceived availability either, which is kind of interesting.”
They reported use for almost all substances decreased dramatically between 2020 and 2021, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and related changes like school closures and social distancing. In 2022, most reported substance use among adolescents held steady at these lowered levels, and these latest data show that this trend has continued this year. In 2023, 10.9% of eighth graders, 19.8% of 10th graders, and 31.2% of 12th graders reported any illicit drug use in the past year.
Facts are important when it comes to marijuana legalization. Especially considering the benefits it has for anxiety, PTSD and more.
It is the time of year to think about others – and what will excite them when they open a gift
We have been trained you want to give the perfect Christmas gift, and nothing is worse than seeing disappointment on someone’s face when they open your gift. The wallet opens and the heart opens as people pick something special for those in their life. Not only can it be fiscally stressful, but it can be emotion al make sure they LOVE what you give. Well, science shows up how to pick the perfect present. Gift giving is an art. And there is a study looking at the about it. For real, here is some data around gift giving.
The research, led by Jeff Galak of Carnegie Mellon University, says gift-givers tend to look for presents offering the recipient a moment of awe or surprise, one which will put a big smile from them during the moment of the exchange. These are good and valid reasons to give a gift, but people tend to forget about a few things when we buy presents; is the person really going to use this? Will the present be of value over time? Is the giver looking for instant gratification?
It’s tough, but the study recommends to pull ourselves out of the equation, to be a little less selfish – we know it’s hard – and to try to give a gift that will be long lasting and that will truly matter. Several people think use gift giving as a way to change a person, not celebrating who they are.
The research demonstrates giving presents is complicated because gift givers and recipients are thinking about totally different things. Gift recipients want something that they’ll actually use or enjoy and will stand the test of time, It may be something not be so cool while unwrapping at a Christmas party.
Bottom line is, during Christmas when you really want to buy your friend a tree ornament that looks amazing and they’ve been eyeing for a while, it will definitely pay off to hold back on those eggnog induced feelings and buy them something that you know they’ll need in the future.
On average, the energy that coffee provides lasts for a good six hours, but it can be influenced by a variety of factors.
Coffee is a must have for the well being of a large percentage of people. Whether you need it to function in the morning, midday or both, coffee helps us concentrate and get work done. But it also has some negative side effects, especially if you overdo it.
Caffeine is present in a lot of beverages, piling on throughout the day if you’re not careful. Having too much of it could result in a brain that’s overexerted, anxiety, muscle twitches and that insomnia that strikes if you have a coffee past 6 p.m.
On average, the energy that coffee provides lasts for a good six hours, but it can be influenced by a variety of factors. According to The Huffington Post, your age, biology and relationship with coffee could explain why coffee didn’t have as strong of an effect when you were a kid as it does now.
“What we’re learning is every cell of our body has its own biological clock. If you use caffeine… to wake your brain up, it doesn’t necessarily mean the rest of your body is on the same time zone. You may be up, but you may feel sluggish,” said Zhaoping Li, professor of medicine at the University of California, to The Huffington Post. “How our body responds to food, nutrients, including caffeine, it is highly variable. Each individual may have their own sweet spot.”
Photo by Sara Johnston via Unsplash
As much as coffee’s effectiveness varies, according to The Healthy, for a large percentage of people the best time to have coffee is in the afternoon. This is due to the fact that the minute you wake up, your body is high on cortisol, the stress hormone. This element makes you feel alert, but also a little rough, which is why the world is not full of morning people.
Drinking your coffee mid-morning will provide you with that much needed energy. Says Sherry Ross, MD: “The studies are inconsistent, but it’s thought that waiting until mid-morning—when cortisol levels are lower—is better since caffeine increases this feel-good hormone later in the day.”
One of the proven benefits of cannabis helping with nausea…but how does it work and does CBD do the same thing?
The medical research community is constantly revealing new benefits of the cannabis plant. from PTSD to anxiety to nausea, it is become a benefit for people. But how does it work? Here is why marijuana is good for nausea and some insight into CBD on the same subject. First, nausea and emesis (vomiting) are protective and defensive responses used by animals to avoid ingesting or digesting a potentially harmful substance.
Nausea is an aversive experience that comes before vomiting, but is distinct from throwing up. Vomiting leads to the “forceful expulsion of gastric and/or upper intestinal contents,” whereas nausea serves as a stimulus associated with vomiting that helps an animal learn and remember that a food should be avoided. Interestingly, nausea is a sensitive reflex that can be easily activated by a wide range of conditions such as migraines, diabetes, or motion sickness.
Photo by monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images
Now that we understand nausea, we can get to the real question: does weed help with nausea? Weed, or cannabis, is a highly effective treatment for nausea. In fact, cannabis is one of humanity’s oldest remedies for nausea. In clinical trials, cannabis-based medicines have been shown to be more effective than some modern anti-nausea treatments.
Does weed cause nausea?
In recent years, there have been numerous reports of severe nausea and vomiting associated with chronic cannabis consumption, and particularly the consumption of potent cannabis concentrates. This ailment is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome or CHS.
However, in general, cannabis does not cause nausea. That said, edibles, tinctures, or any cannabis product that is orally ingested could potentially cause some stomach upset if you are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Why does weed help with nausea?
We have determined that marijuana can help with nausea, but why does weed help with nausea? Researchers have found that the endocannabinoid system plays a key role in nausea and vomiting.
Vomiting is often triggered by the release of serotonin (5-HT) from cells in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Animal studies suggest that CB1 receptor agonists like THC reduce intestinal 5-HT release, thus decreasing nausea trigger. (Want to know more about the endocannabinoid system?)
The cannabinoids in weed help reduce vomiting by interacting with receptors in the brain that are involved in the control of vomiting. According to a literature review on this topic, “in humans and in animal models, plant-derived cannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids and endocannabinoids inhibit emesis evoked peripherally or centrally with drugs or natural stimuli.” Where it has been examined, these anti-vomiting effects are mediated by the CB1 receptors in the dorsal vagal complex of the brain.
Additionally, evidence from animal studies suggests that cannabinoids “may be especially useful in treating the more difficult to control symptoms of nausea and anticipatory nausea in chemotherapy patients.”
However, the areas of the brain that elicit nausea are far less defined than those that are involved in vomiting. That said, we can answer the question, “does weed help with nausea?” definitively. Cannabis is a highly effective treatment for nausea.
Photo by elenaleonova/Getty Images
Do edibles help with nausea?
Cannabis edibles are a popular way to consume weed. Edibles are a popular choice for people who want to treat nausea because they are easy to consume and offer long-lasting relief. When you eat an edible, the cannabinoids are absorbed slowly through your digestive system. It can take 30 minutes to an hour to feel the effects of an edible, however the effects can last anywhere from four to six hours on average and up to 24 hours for some people. Edibles contain cannabinoids that may relieve nausea, making them a great option for individuals seeking long-lasting relief from their nausea.
Does CBD weed help with nausea?
CBD weed can also help with nausea. CBD is a compound in cannabis that has many potential health benefits, including relieving pain and reducing inflammation. Some people find that CBD helps relieve their nausea more effectively than THC. This is because CBD does not have the psychoactive effects that THC does. This means that when you consume CBD you will not experience the “high” that is often associated with THC.
According to researchers, CBD is thought to relieve nausea and inhibit vomiting by activating somatodendritic 5-HT1A receptors in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of the brain. The activation of somatodendritic 5-HT1A receptors decreases the release of 5-HT.
Is THC good for nausea?
THC is good for nausea because it is an effective antiemetic, meaning it helps to control nausea and vomiting. THC works by blocking the 5-HT3 receptors in the area of the brain that controls vomiting. By blocking these receptors, THC is able to help control nausea and vomiting.
Studies on animals have shown that:
Anandamide, a cannabinoid that is produced naturally in the body, THC, and several synthetic cannabinoids can block the 5-HT3 receptors in the area of the brain that controls vomiting and that by blocking 5-HT3 receptors in this part of the brain cannabinoids help to control nausea and vomiting.
Cannabinoids may work on presynaptic CB1 receptors to decrease the release of serotonin into the synapse which inhibits a nauseous and/or vomiting response.
CBD can be used to reduce binding effects on 5-HT3 receptors thus inhibiting a nauseous and/or vomiting response.
Photo by Rex Pickar via Unpslash
Key takeaways on weed and nausea
Weed can help with nausea by working on receptors in the brain that are responsible for controlling vomiting.
CBD is thought to be especially effective for relieving nausea and vomiting that is the result of chemotherapy.
THC is also an effective antiemetic and can help to control nausea and vomiting.
If you’re considering weed for nausea, speak with a licensed medical professional to see if it’s an option for you.
Some songs you can’t get out of the head and some seem to be play every 5 minutes, but is Christmas music causing you stress?
It seems immediately after Halloween, holiday music premiers in every store, lobby and across music platforms. Some people grumble and complain it starts too early, other hum along and have a smile. But is Christmas music bad for your mental health? While nearly half of U.S. adults (49%) would describe their stress levels during the traditional holiday season between November and January as “moderate,” around two in five (41%) said their stress increases during this time compared with other points in the year.
Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey likely have no intention of causing you harm, but repetitive holiday music can actually have a psychological effect on your body. For many, there is a time when holiday songs inspire happiness and spark nostalgia, but there is a point with some when it just becomes too much.
Photo by Kira auf der Heide via Unsplash
With the onslaught, the brain becomes oversaturated, triggering a negative response. If you’re already worried about money, work, or seeing family during the holidays, the constant inundation of cheerful tuns may reinforce stress. Multiple studies have shown people feel like they have less time, more responsibilities, and higher expectations during the season, all contributing to holiday stress.
Clinical psychologist Linda Blair shared Christmas music can be mentally draining. People working in the shops [have to tune out] Christmas music, because if they don’t, it really does stop you from being able to focus on anything else. You’re simply spending all of your energy trying not to hear what you’re hearing.
So, how do you win the war on Christmas music? Try to vary your playlist, because sticking to only holiday tunes produces mental fatigue, making our brains foggy and unable to think. .
Cannabis is known to have medical benefits…but does all form work? What about kief?
Medical marijuana has helped PTSD, inflammation, anxiety and more. While more medical research needs to be done, it has properties to make a difference. But does all part of weed help? How can Leif be used medically.
The term kief is derived from an Arabic word that means intoxication or pleasure. Most of you probably know what cannabis is and the purpose of different cannabinoids like CBD and THC. Aside from those, there are other compounds found within and on the cannabis plant including terpenes, flavonoids, trichomes, and additional cannabinoids.
What is kief though, what is its link to cannabis, and is it medically beneficial?
About Kief And Its Link To Cannabis
Kief is the term used to describe the glimmering crystals found on cannabis flowers/buds. Oftentimes, kief covers cannabis buds, and it gives them a shimmering crystal-like appearance. If cannabis buds are ground, kief will accumulate in the grinder as long as the grinder has a separate filter to catch it. It usually takes a significant amount of time for kief to accumulate, especially if one wants to make a cannabis-infused recipe with kief as a main ingredient.
In addition, it’s relatively common for people to create their own cannabis-infused products that contain kief. To accumulate as much kief as possible, specially made kief boxes or other similar devices can be purchased. These work to shake off kief from different cannabis buds. However, depending on where you live, you may be able to purchase kief at a cannabis dispensary.
Photo by Jonathan Kantor/Getty Images
In areas that have medical or recreational cannabis programs, many dispensaries sell kief separately. Therefore, rather than waiting for kief to build up over time, skipping that lengthy process and buying a few grams worth of kief at a dispensary is one option.
Medicinal Benefits Of Kief & Its Uses
On average, kief is not only potent, but it’s relatively easy to collect and convenient to consume. A few hits of kief can be extremely powerful, especially for those who are new to it. In most cases, kief reaches around 50 percent THC. However, some of the purest kief extractions can reach up to 80 percent THC. Kief also possesses terpenes and various cannabinoids, which are both at high concentrations. Due to kief’s high THC concentration and quantity of terpenes and cannabinoids, it can deliver significant medical benefits.
Individuals who consume cannabis strains with high THC levels to help treat different medical conditions are ideal candidates for kief consumption. Kief can act as an alternative to cannabis bud and edibles because it’s more potent, and it can be added onto or into different substances. For example, kief can be added onto a freshly packed bowl, in a joint or blunt, in a cannabis-infused recipe, or sprinkled into tea or coffee.
For those who need immediate relief and/or have a high tolerance to cannabis, consuming kief can deliver the results they may be looking for. Also, if individuals don’t want to combust unnecessary plant matter/leftovers and/or don’t want to let burnt material enter their lungs, consuming kief is a common alternative. Aside from kief being used on its own, there are other uses for it like turning it into hash, making rosin, and making moonrocks.
Overall, if you’d like to consume a very potent part of the cannabis plant, kief may be for you. Or, if you wish to make your own homemade cannabis and/or kief-infused products, know that it’s definitely possible, cost-efficient, and worthwhile in the end.
Creating Homemade Cannabis-Infused Edibles With Kief
Moreover, certain steps need to be taken before making cannabis-infused edibles. First, decarboxylating (decarbing) cannabis is essential to properly prepare and create cannabis-infused edibles. Decarboxylating (decarbing) cannabis refers to a process in which a chemical reaction removes a carboxyl group and then proceeds to release carbon dioxide. Additionally, cannabinoids that are found on raw cannabis flowers contain an extra carboxyl group or ring. Once a specific degree of heat is applied over a particular period of time, THCA (a non-psychoactive cannabinoid) coverts into THC (a widely-recognized psychoactive cannabinoid).
When cannabis is decarboxylated, it ensures that the user is receiving the most out of their cannabis as possible. Although people decarboxylate cannabis buds, it’s possible to decarboxylate kief too. Overall, decarboxylating kief is relatively easy and fast, and it’s becoming a more common process, especially since lots of people are interested in creating their own cannabis-infused edibles.
Generally, it’s recommended to decarboxylate kief before using it to create cannabis-infused edibles, butter, or oil. If this is done, it allows users to get the most out of their kief as possible. The process of decarboxylating kief is to mostly make cannabis-infused edibles stronger in addition to gaining the most out of kief.
It is supposed to be a fun season, but the mental tie to work can stop you from enjoying yourself….how to take a work break.
The holiday season can be filled with seeing friends, visiting family, celebrations, shopping or a good movie bing with Christmas Vacation. But the tug of the job can interrupt the joy and relaxation of the holiday. For some, the extra pressure of facing looming year-end deadlines during a shortened work month, combined with additional personal, financial, and family obligations, can cause holiday stress during this time of year.
It doesn’t help the days between December 25-31 are filled with family and social obligations, blurring together and becoming one giant mass of time which is extremely hard to get work done.
Studies prove taking a break from work provides a significant amount of health benefits, especially if you’re filling your time with satisfying and memorable activities. Here are hte best ways to detach from work over the holidays.
Spend time with your loved ones
Connecting to a “larger purpose” can help you get out of your head and be more present in whatever you’re doing over the holidays. “The stressors of your work life are temporary and nobody ever looks back on their life remembering the nights they chose to finish a project over making memories with loved ones,” say representatives of Noken, a company that prepares trips for people who have a tough time leaving their work at home.
It’s hard to get some distance from work when you’re constantly checking your phone and your email. In order to make the most out of your days off, try silencing your notifications or turning them off all together. If you still need to work, set up a schedule allowing you to work efficiently and will also let you have your own free time. On most icases, emails can wait.
Prioritize personal stuff
During the holiday season, make your personal life your priority. This doesn’t mean you have to disregard work entirely, it just means if you’re organized you can schedule your work activities ahead of time and spend quality time with your loved ones.
Plan ahead
If you know you have a big project coming up then make sure to clock in some work hours where you’re focused and don’t have a lot of distractions. This will allow you to finish your work as soon as possible and freeing up the rest of your day, allowing you to do what you want with your time.
There’s no reason for you to be chained to your laptop or your phone over the holidays, especially if you’ve been conducting your duties normally and efficiently. If there’s an emergency, your boss will surely call you and let you know. Your work will still be there the next day, so try to have some perspective and avoid missing out on important moments with your family and friends.
Smoking is a rough habit to break – but the benefits of stopping are key to long term health – but some people tend to add pounds which can cause issues.
The damage to the lungs and heart, the smell, the breath are all reasons to quit smoking. It is a tough habit to break, but critical for long term health. It is a tough journey to get it fully out of the system. But why do people gain weight after quitting smoking? While people tend to chalk it up as replacing one habit with another, or as an expression of anxiety, a study provides some much-needed scientific explanations.
Published in the Nature journal, the study suggests that the gut’s microbiome plays a part in the association between quitting smoking and gaining weight. Still, the mechanisms as to why this occurs are not clear.
Scientists devised a variety of tests involving mice, exposing them to smoke and then noting their fluctuations in gut bacteria. The first results showed that mice exposed to cigarette smoke resisted gaining weight when consuming a diet containing high fat. When the smoke was halted and the mice continued to eat the same diet, they gained weight.
Photo by brazzo/Getty Images
Subsequent studies proved gut bacteria’s importance in this situation; scientists provided antibiotics to the mice, depleting their microbiome, and found that it could impact their weight gain. Lastly, scientists transplanted fecal samples of the mice exposed to the smoke towards regular mice, finding that the regular mice experienced weight fluctuations as well.
Researchers then pinpointed the elements in the microbiome responsible for this change, calling out dimethylglycine (DMG) and acetylglycine (ACG) in particular. By enhancing and reducing these elements in mice, they found that even mice who weren’t exposed to smoke experienced weight fluctuations. Healthy mice with DMG supplements gained weight, while healthy mice with ACG supplements lost it.
Ninety-six human participants also took part in this study, all of whom displayed similar results as the mice. While this isn’t a complete win in terms of understanding how smoke influences our stomachs, it’s a significant first step, one that might help people understand the impact of cigarettes on gut health and might even provide a few solutions in the future that might encourage people to quit the habit without having to worry about the possible side effects.
Cannabis is apparently helping people get through prickly discussions around politics, and easing stress around anti-vaccine family members this season.
It is the holiday season and people go heavy into celebrating. Surveys into the question suggest in the weeks between Thanksgiving and the new year, alcohol consumption spikes. For some people, it’s as much as double what they drink during the rest of the year. But what do cannabis consumer do what over the holidays?? Well, Green Wednesday should be an indicator since it is one of the largest weed days of the year….they also have a huge increase in use.
That’s why roughly 70% of cannabis users say they plan on consuming more weed and less booze over the holidays, reported CBD Oracle, a cannabis consumer research company, in a new survey. As the December holidays have traditionally been linked to increased drinking, it looks like cannabis is set to take over Christmas.
Photo by Sarah Pender/Getty Images
CBD Oracle asked 1,925 US adults — who’d all used cannabis at least once before — about how the holidays will impact their weed consumption.
The results were astonishing. Over 68.7% said that it will consume more over Christmas, with 47.8% saying they will use “way more” and 20.9% saying they’ll use “a little more.”
Over half of those surveyed said cannabis helps them manage the financial and social stress of the holidays while also helping with sleep and improving mood. These were the two most popular reasons.
In addition, 47.7% said they would enjoy getting high with family members over the holidays, including 77% of those with many family members who already use cannabis.
Cannabis is apparently helping people get through prickly discussions around politics, at least according to 48% of those asked, while 61.5% said that it would make them more comfortable being around anti-vaccine family members.
“The entire global market has changed since March 2020, and cannabis is no exception,” Mark Mellone, CBD Oracle’s chief research officer shared. “How people use cannabis and the reasons why have also changed post-COVID. Our mission here is to detail those changes and help people adapt better to difficult circumstances and relationships. No time is this felt more profoundly than the Holidays.”
Nothing says classic cannabis use like smoking a joint – here is how to roll like a pro.
For the canna-newbie, learning to create a blunt seems easy, but sometimes it is a bit more of a challenge to get it just right. As marijuana moves to the mainstream, smoking is still the popular choice for consuming, but vaping and gummies have a strong portion of the market. Here are tips to help you roll the perfect joint.
A decent joint should have some sort of filter and should burn evenly, ensuring that it’s a pleasant experience where the weed tastes pleasant and no parts go to waste. Here are 6 tips that can help you roll a perfect joint:
Gather your tools
Photo by VasilevKirill/Getty Images
Before you start, get all of your tools out in a space that’s clean with no dust or clutter. Put your grinder, rolling papers, filters, and a pen nearby, and designate a small section of space for your rolling. A small tray or a clean book cover will help you keep things clean and reduce weed loss.
If you’re rolling your first joint, be sure to purchase normal-sized rolling papers and grab manageable amounts of marijuana. Half a gram or a couple of pinches should be enough; it’s better for your joint to be small and well-distributed than something that’s too big and breaks down mid-smoke.
Get to work
Photo by MStudioImages/Getty Images
Grind your cannabis and place it somewhere accessible, so when you’re packing the joint you won’t run out of hands. Place a filter at one end of the rolling paper, making a cone shape so that it doesn’t fall out. You can buy filters or make them from scratch by folding a piece of cardboard or a business card. A filter is important since it gives you some stability and prevents you from burning your fingers once you’ve smoked down the joint.
Add pinches of weed to your rolling paper, distributing it evenly with your finger. Pick up any bits of weed that fall off into the tray or book cover underneath you and put them back in the joint.
Lastly, start rolling the joint; this step takes some practice but the best way to do it is to pinch the paper between your fingertips and roll it back and forth until it gets its joint shape. Tuck the unglued part of the paper into the roll and lick the edge that has glue, pasting it to the roll. (Make sure to moisten all the glue you can so that your joint stays glued throughout your smoke session.) Use a pen to pack the open end of the joint, pressing it gently in. Twirl that tip of the joint and you’re ready to go.
Other options
Photo by Tunatura/Getty Images
Rolling joints is a skill, one that a lot of people might not have the patience for. Luckily, in this day and age, there’s no need for everyone to be an expert joint roller. You can purchase pre-rolled joints while you train.
A rolling tray is not necessary, but once you use one you’ll never go back. There’s something incredibly comfy about rolling trays, preventing messes, and keeping everything at hand. Don’t use your tray to dispose of your ashes; get an ashtray too.
You should also invest in a good torch or lighter. While your average Bic lighter will get the job done, a lighter or a torch that’s worth a few bucks will last for longer and you’ll likely care for it more and know where it is. A portable torch is also great for lighting joints on the go, with there being no need to cup the lighter in order to protect the flame from the wind.
A rolling machine is can also cut a lot of the stress from your life, delivering perfect joints in seconds.
These tips to roll the perfect joint will have you looking like an expert in now time!
