Police department data shows that marijuana-related arrests have decreased significantly over the past couple of years.
The decriminalization of marijuana and an evolving perspective on the drug could be responsible for a significant drop in arrests in some of Illinois’ largest suburbs.
The Aurora Beacon News reports that marijuana-related crimes in the state dropped by a range of 63 to 80 percent from the years of 2015 to 2018, with numbers suggesting that the drop will continue on to 2019.
Although recreational marijuana was legalized in Illinois earlier this year, the measure will become effective January 1, 2020. This change has caused police officers to reduce the number of arrests made for cannabis possession and manufacture ahead of time. One factor that was also instrumental to this decrease in marijuana related arrests was a law introduced in 2016, which prompted officers to issue citations over arrests when encountering people carrying small amounts of marijuana.
It also helps that law enforcers and the general population’s opinions have shifted regarding marijuana. “We arrest somebody for marijuana, and the courts just throw it out because they look at it as just a real minor offense,” says Steven Stelter, president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. “The real mindset is, what’s the big deal?”
According to police department data, some of the communities that experienced this drop, such as Aurora, Naperville, Elgin, Joliet and Waukegan, were some of the most affected by cannabis arrests in the past. These cities are also among the most populated areas of the state.
There can be some pretty severe consequences for Hemp CBD businesses that rely on what they read after a five-minute Google search to make big-picture business decisions.
When it comes to hemp-derived CBD (“Hemp CBD”), the best advice we can give is not to trust most of what’s out there on the internet. No, I am not talking about the claims of medical benefits for Hemp CBD (which could be the subject of its own entire post), but rather about whether or not Hemp CBD is legal.
As I write this post, the 2018 Farm Bill is just over a year old. Generally, when such a significant law has been on the books for about a year, it’s easy to find reliable and accurate information about that law online. But for whatever reason, there is still so much inaccurate information about Hemp CBD online in the wake of the 2018 Farm Bill.
For example, anyone who does a Google search for “Is CBD legal in X state” will likely see numerous sources that claim that CBD is completely legal, or at least fail to address critical legal nuances that may clearly bar one class of products (such as Hemp CBD foods) while leaving others in a gray area (such as cosmetics). A person can even find websites making claims that Hemp CBD is lawful in states like California that have made clear since months before the 2018 Farm Bill was passed that certain Hemp CBD products are not lawful.
Many dubious sources also ignore the FDA’s long-stated position that some Hemp CBD products are not lawful. I still even hear, on a semi-regular basis, people say that “I read online that the 2018 Farm Bill legalized all Hemp CBD products, right?” (If you couldn’t guess where I was going with this, the answer is no.) The persistence is remarkable.
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I can’t comment on the reason why there is so much incorrect information about Hemp CBD online. But I can say that there can be some pretty severe consequences for Hemp CBD businesses who rely on what they read after a five-minute Google search to make big-picture business decisions. On numerous occasions, our Hemp CBD lawyers have spoken with business owners who have done just that, and in some cases have invested a lot of money into proposed ventures that need to be completely scrapped or at least heavily retooled.
The moral of the story is that businesses need to do their homework before jumping into the Hemp CBD game. It’s not always easy to do tons of up-front work in an industry that is so rapidly evolving and when getting in first can mean more success. But doing the leg work up front can often mean the difference between being on the FDA or some state agency’s short list for an enforcement action, or operating without avoidable problems.
While Google can be a valuable starting point in many industries, it should not be the only source that Hemp CBD businesses should look to when developing products or strategies.
As an alternative to incarceration, Buttigieg proposed diversion programs, saying the benefits are higher rates of rehabilitation, no incarceration costs and no harm to people being separated from their family.
Democratic presidential candidate and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg is on the record as saying incarceration should not be the response to simple drug possession.
When asked if he is referring to various drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine or ecstasy, the politician and Navy Reserve veteran said yes, adding: “that doesn’t mean legalization of everything.”
He gave the example of synthetic marijuana, which he said receives “dramatically less” attention than some other forms of addiction.
The mayor said he witnessed an overdose and is “very much alive to the harm that drug use can cause,” but is also aware that substances as harmful as “rat poison sprayed onto grass” are being sold in some cases.
“You’d be much better off with real marijuana.”
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“The idea that you can criminalize addiction, or the idea that incarceration is the right way to handle possession I think has been disproven by the American experience over the course of my lifetime.”
As an alternative to incarceration, Buttigieg proposed diversion programs, saying the benefits are higher rates of rehabilitation, no incarceration costs and no harm to people being separated from their family, loved ones or any supporting group they need the most.
“Eliminate incarceration for drug possession, reduce sentences for other drug offenses and apply these reductions retroactively, legalize marijuana, and expunge past convictions.”
For all the progress that the cannabis industry has made, the marijuana plant remains very mysterious. Here are some facts you should know about the plant.
Marijuana is a plant with multiple purposes, ranging from the medicinal to recreational. While we’re at a moment where we know more about the herb than ever, it still remains a little on the mysterious side. We know it’s powerful, but we’re still not sure why it produces such a wide variety of effects on your body.
We’ve gathered some of the most random, but also super interesting facts about marijuana, because you can never be too informed or educated on the subject.
Mysterious Origins
When we think about the birthplace of marijuana, the Love Generation of the 1960s likely comes to mind, but the herb has been around for much longer. The 60s were simply the decade when the drug acquired some popularity.
At the Drug Enforcement Administration Museum in Arlington, Virginia it’s stated that the first time the use of cannabis was recorded was in China in 2727 B.C., when the Emperor Shen Nung discovered it and began to use it medically. Some people argue that Nung wasn’t the emperor of China during that time period, claiming that the true emperor was Qin Shi Huang.
Hemp Vs. THC
Industrial hemp plants and marijuana plants are very confusing and a lot of people (including cops) don’t know the difference between the two. Hemp and marijuana come from the same plant, cannabis sativa, but their cannabinoid content varies greatly. THC is present in marijuana and is responsible for giving you that feeling of being “high”. Hemp plants have none of that and that’s why they’re no fun to consume. They do contain a lot of CDB, which is another cannabinoid that has some great properties.
Multiple Uses For Hemp
Hemp can be used for many things, like rope, clothes, shoes and even technology. One of the oddest uses of a hemp rope was for transporting giant pieces of stone, specifically the ones that make up the humongous Easter Island statues.
Some people theorized that aliens had to have helped out in the creation of these statues due to how big they were and how limited our technology was during that time period.
Nope, no aliens, just marijuana.
Marijuana In The Air
A study from 2012 discovered that there are trace amounts of marijuana in the air in seven different Italian cities. These levels of marijuana were too low to produce any effects on humans, so tourists don’t have to worry about getting accidentally high while taking in the sites. Shame.
Gender Differences
Recent studies have discovered that marijuana can affect men and women in different ways. Research on rats conducted on 2011 discovered that female rats felt more of a painkilling effect than male rats when consuming marijuana. These females were also more more likely to develop a tolerance for the herb.
Estrogen seems to be the cause for this weird discovery considering that female rats were more sensitive to cannabis when ovulating.
Marijuana Addiction
Over time, heavy marijuana users can become very dependent on the herb, feeling sick and uncomfortable when not consuming the drug. Scientists have discovered several variables that suggest that this dependency may be related to genetic reasons, leaving some people more vulnerable than others due to their DNA. These variables are not causal; they simply exist and will definitely lead to future research and exploration on the subject.
Consumption Methods
The legalization of the herb and its acceptance throughout different states suggests that soon we’ll be discovering new methods when it comes to consuming marijuana. A study conducted on 2,800 people found that consumers who come from states where the herb is legal have consumed marijuana in different ways, be that through vaping or edibles.
In 2001, an anthropologist found remnants of marijuana on a pipe that was found on the presumed residence of William Shakespeare. Are we really that surprised?
Here’s why researchers are going through the trouble of creating THC and CBD from yeast when these chemicals are naturally available in the cannabis plant.
Science has a way, from time to time, of stepping outside the realm of the sane and possible and wallowing around inside dark territories that can only be called, as the kids might say, WTF moments.
Last year, it was head transplants pushing the limits of our medical potential, and now researchers say they have managed to create the cannabis compounds CBD and THC from the building block of bread and beer. Apparently, yeast is all we ever needed to produce the effects of marijuana. And if you just found yourself thinking holy cow, this is a brave new world, we are right there with you!
In a paper published earlier this year in the journal Nature, scientists explain the process in which they are using yeasts to manufacture cannabis compounds. These test tube shenanigans are being conducted more as a way for scientists to gain a better understanding of THC and CBD rather than a means for bypassing the cannabis plant in one’s quest for buzz or therapeutic benefits.
How does this work? It’s complicated, so try to keep up. Scientists essentially load hacked beer yeasts with the genes of a cannabis plant, which turn into CBGA, which then become either THCA or CBDA. Once these compounds are exposed to a heat source, they magically transform into THC and CBD.
Get it? Yeah, admittedly, the scientific mumble jumble behind this process sort of catapulted us back to the days when we were struggling to pass Chemistry class. It’s the reason we went on to become writers and not, well, mad scientists earning their livings morphing yeast in pot parts.
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So, if all researchers are trying to do is study cannabinoids, why are they going through the trouble of creating THC and CBD from yeast when these chemicals are naturally available in the cannabis plant? Well, they say the creation of alternative cannabinoids is necessary because working with the plant itself is difficult. There is the growing process — and they don’t have time for that — and don’t get them started on the hassles involved with extracting the compounds from the plant. It is just easier and more efficient for them to create THC and CBD in a laboratory setting.
Another benefit to using yeast to produce cannabis compounds is it allows scientists more control. Extracting these chemicals from the flower creates a situation where it’s possible for CBD to be tainted with THC and vice versa. In order to properly study THC and CBD, researchers need to have flexibility. How else are researchers ever going to learn whether CBD is the all healing, rockstar compound that it has been made out to be?
“Being able to produce that [CBD] in a way that’s uncontaminated with THC is a pretty valuable thing,” UC Berkeley chemical engineer Jay Keasling, one of the study authors, told Wired.
However, comparing this process to head transplants is a bit of a stretch.
Researchers admit that what they are doing in the lab isn’t much different from what is actually happening with raw marijuana. Eating buds straight off a cannabis plant it isn’t going to do much more than leave a weird aftertaste in your mouth (don’t ask us how we know that). That’s because THC, the stoner component, isn’t generated until after the raw flower (containing mostly THCA) is exposed to heat. This is called decarboxylation. It’s interesting science, but nothing as fascinating as the Frankenstein madness of attaching heads to another body.
Researchers say the bioengineered cannabinoids they are creating from yeast are precisely the same as those found in cannabis. To that end, they believe the yeast technique could be the future of marijuana research.
Unlike unproven and potentially dangerous cleansing trends and detox products, CBD has been shown to improve health or at least shows potential in treating certain ailments.
The notion of detoxifying or cleansing the body, commonly for wellness or weight loss, is a popular concept, with many different types of programs marketed towards the public. Health supplements and ingredients are often included in these detox/cleanse products, such as kale, acai berries, and, of course, CBD.
With growth and interest in cannabidiol, it’s no surprise that these products are now being made with CBD as the purported active ingredient. Unfortunately, there’s little science to back up the concept of “detoxification.” Possibly adding to the confusion are CBD’s actual positive effects in treating certain conditions.
Detox and cleansing products promise to remove impurities and toxins from the body, improving health and wellbeing. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, there have been no quality studies on the efficacy of advertised and popular cleansing routines and products. In fact, some cleanses can be dangerous, leading to possible kidney and heart problems, and unpasteurized juice can cause those with weakened immunity serious illness.
That’s not to say that cannabidiol is not without its curative properties. CBD has been shown to reduce inflammation, obesity, diabetes, and promote cardiovascular health. A study conducted by the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology at University of Massachusetts Medical School and published in the journal Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, found that CBD’s interaction with endocannabinoid receptors impacted the regulation of inflammation.
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Research published in the journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry found that CBD shows promise in the regulation of obesity. And a multi-departmental study at the State University, Maringa in Brazil and published in the journal Chemico-Biological Interactions found that CBD mitigated the effects of diabetes and lowered total cholesterol levels in lab rats.
Unlike unproven and potentially dangerous cleansing trends and detox products, CBD has been shown to improve health or at least shows potential in treating ailments, although more research is needed to better understand the therapeutic properties of cannabidiol.
As the end of 2019 approaches, it’s important to highlight all the stuff you’ve accomplished and to consider the areas where you can still improve.
The end of the year is a time for lots of celebration and joy, but it’s also often a time of stress and melancholy. A date that signifies the end of yet another year is the perfect way of making us reflect on all the things we’ve accomplished or, a little more depressingly, all the things we’ve yet to do.
Something more helpful than stressing out over missed opportunities is to use the end of the year as a way of checking in with yourself and noticing where you stand. Rarely do we ever get the chance to think about our progress in terms of our relationships, work, and our physical and emotional health.
Fast Company spoke with Katie Sandler, an impact coach who stresses on the importance of looking back in order to look forward. “This is the time of year when people look forward and decide what their resolutions are going to be. Whether they realize it or not, creating those resolutions comes from taking inventory of what they have been doing. As you move into 2020, it’s important to first look back,” she says.
Here’s how you start:
Take inventory of your year
The easiest way to measure the progress of your year is to split it up according to the different areas of your life, such as career, relationships, finances, health and personal development. Sandler recommends asking yourself some important questions regarding your year, such as listing out four highs and four lows, how did you reach those highs and how you got over the lows. Check through what stressed you out the most, and what aspects you were most grateful in 2019.
Photo by Brad Neathery via Unsplash
Celebrate the good stuff
For some reason, the bad stuff tends to stick out, eclipsing all the good things that happened in your year. It’s important to not gloss over the negatives, but to also focus on your positive accomplishments, reviewing the skills you acquired through the year. If the skill is one you appreciate, make sure to write them down and to put in the work in order to continue to practice those skills.
Skills are never fully completed and learned, which is why it’s important to celebrate the little steps and to give yourself the room to pat yourself on the back.
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Think about the future of your career
Use your year end review to highlight different aspects of your career. Keep track of your accomplishments and use them as examples when the opportunity presents itself at work. It may feel weird to highlight all of the good stuff you do to your superior in work, but it’s important to have these examples when the right moment pops up, building yourself up and reminding people of why they hired you in the first place.
Since CBD can help management anxiety, improve cognitive function and sleep, and reduce chronic pain, it can help improve one’ s overall health.
Every December 31st, you cobble together a list of things you intend to do in the new year in your ongoing quest to improve yourself. But by mid-February, it’s back to the couch and Netflix.
If you set health and wellness goals as part of your New Year’s resolutions, here’s some suggestions for how CBD can help you actually keep these promises.
Get a Better Night’s Sleep
Studies suggest that CBD may help with both falling asleep and staying asleep. Some CBD products contain melatonin and other natural sleep aids for those wanting an extra boost.
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Improve Overall Health
Since CBD can help management anxiety, improve cognitive function and sleep, and reduce chronic pain, it can help improve one’ s overall health.
Ground Yourself
Taking CBD can help complement and enhance a spiritual and grounding practices such as yoga or meditation.
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Pamper Yourself
A CBD-enhanced mani/pedi called a “canna-cure” will help reduce pain and swelling in the hands and feet for an added benefit to this beauty treatment. Also, in addition to CBD, hemp oil contains a lot of substances thought to be beneficial to the skin, such as fatty acids like omega-6 and omega-3, vitamin E, and linoletic acids.
Enhance Athletic Performance
CBD has a history of helping athletes achieve peak performance as it helps them manage pain and recover form their injuries faster.
CBD interacts with two receptors that play important roles in metabolism and food intake. Hence, they can help with those looking to lose some holiday weight as they enter into the New Year.
Quit Smoking
In one study, smokers treated with a CBD inhaler significantly reduced the number of cigarettes they smoked by a surprising 40% during treatment. Along those lines, CBD-hemp cigarettes can help smokers learn healthier habits.
CBD can help reduce the mood swings, headaches, and stiff muscles that often accompany the stress, thus making it easier to digest the news as we head into the 2020 election.
This week’s column includes songs from Drake, Travis Scott and a new single from Ed Sheeran.
This Week’s Music is a weekly column that discusses the weeks’ best, worst, and most interesting songs. We try to select songs of different artists and genres to keep things interesting and to please a variety of music fans.
This week’s column includes songs from Drake, Travis Scott and a new single from Ed Sheeran. Check them out!
Hip Hop
Drake – War
After a sort of light 2019 with only a couple of songs released, Drake is back with “War,” which is a part of a mixtape from manager Oliver El-Khatib. The song is angry and pissed off at someone, probably everyone. It’s also a snooze of the highest order.
“Highest In The Room” is a part of Travis Scott’s “Jackboys,” a new project that features songs with Rosalia, Lil Baby, Migos, and more. The song is short but packs a strong punch, filled with Scott’s oddities and psychedelic rhythms that seep into your brain and make you wish you could start the song all over again.
Ed Sheeran & Ella Mai – Put It All On Me
Another year, another cheesy Ed Sheeran pop song. This time, not even the help of the great Ella Mai can save him. The intentions are good, with lyrics talking about love and companionship, and the music video reinforcing this by featuring “real” couples from different parts of the world. But it’s all so flat; Ed Sheeran has been making the same kind of music for years and will continue to do so forever because his songs make for the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon spent mindlessly shopping at Target.
There is at least one medical study that has been conducted to scientifically measure the amount of time it takes for the onset of cannabis’s psychotropic effects and duration.
Longtime consumers of cannabis can do a pretty good job of gauging their high, but casual or novice marijuana partakers will lack the experience to estimate the strength and duration.
There are several factors in estimating how long a marijuana high will last, including the amount ingested, the delivery method, individual tolerance, and metabolism.
There is at least one medical study that has been conducted to scientifically measure the amount of time it takes for the onset of cannabis’s psychotropic effects and duration.
The study, published in the journal Clinical Pharmacokinetics, and conducted by Nova-Institut, in Hürth, Germany, found that inhaling marijuana smoke provided near immediate effect that peaks at around 30 minutes and tapers off in a couple of hours.
The same study found that the onset of psychotropic effects of edibles take longer, up to 90 minutes, peaking at about the 2-3 hour mark, and taking anywhere from four to twelve hours for effects to fully subside. The authors noted that factors such as metabolism and tolerance play a role in the intensity and duration of marijuana’s effects.
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As a general rule of thumb, expect to feel high for about two hours when smoking, and four if eating a typical dose of edible marijuana, usually between 5-20mg of THC. Individuals with higher metabolism can generally expect highs to be shorter in length. Increased tolerance will require higher doses to feel the same effect.
Finally, it’s always better to start with a low dose and slowly inhale or eat more marijuana, especially with edibles, as the effects of cannabis-infused food take longer to feel and longer to dissipate. Inhaling marijuana makes it easier to dose and more difficult to induce panic attacks or anxiety, common side effects of large doses of THC. If a higher-than-anticipated dose is taken, a self-reminder that the effects will eventually subside can possibly provide some calm and abate marijuana-induced dread and unease.
