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Here’s How The THC In Medical Marijuana Can Combat HIV

Richard Faulk
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Here’s How The THC In Medical Marijuana Can Combat HIV

Cannabis has been reliably shown to whet the appetite and soothe chronic neuropathic pain. But there is evidence that cannabis might actually combat the disease itself.

We know that many HIV/AIDS patients find relief in cannabis. In fact, science tells us that as many as one in three do. Cannabis has been reliably shown to whet the appetite and soothe chronic neuropathic pain. But there is evidence that cannabis can do more than treat the symptoms of HIV; it might actually combat the disease itself.

In a 2014 study, researchers at Louisiana State University Medical Center examined the guts of rhesus monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiancy virus, the monkey version of HIV. (I’m assuming the monkeys were just caught up in the hedonism of the late ‘70s, like the rest of us, and living without any regard for tomorrow.) The gut is a major center of the immune system, which HIV (and SIV) infiltrates and then exploits to reproduce itself.

RELATED: 8 Facts and 1 Big Speculation About Marijuana And HIV

Coincidentally, the gut is also host to a great abundance of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) cells. Or is it coincidental? Scientists have long speculated that CB2 cells play a role in immunity—but what that role could be is far from clear.

The Louisiana State team treated the monkeys with twice-daily does of THC. According to lead researcher, Dr. Patricia Molina, “we thought it was going to increase viral load.” But the results were quite the opposite. After 17 months of exposure to THC, the monkey’s guts showed lower viral loads, along with increased abundance of CD4 and CD8 cells—which are varieties of immunity-conveying T cells that are typically devastated by HIV. In other words, the CB2 cells stimulated by THC did a kick-ass job keeping SIV at bay.

RELATED: Marijuana Can Protect The Brain From The Effects of HIV

These findings jibe with an earlier study by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, which showed that, in tissue samples, CB2 blocks a certain signaling process that HIV uses to infiltrate other cells. But the two studies don’t exactly address each other: The monkey-gut report shows an effect during the early stage of infection, while Mount Sinai’s in vitro tests apply only to the very late stage.

How Much More Sex Do You Have In An Open Relationship

Sam Jones
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How Much More Sex Do You Have In An Open Relationship

The more the merrier has long been used as an excuse to bring along more people – but is it true?

In today’s world, there are situationship, sides, and more. So how much more sex do you have in an open relationship? The more doesn’t always make the merrier when it comes to sex. Contrary to what people in monogamous relationships might believe, being in an open relationship doesn’t automatically make your sex life better, a new survey found.

RELATED: 8 Questions You Need To Ask Before You Have Sex With Someone

Conducted by Berlin-based research company Dalia, the survey asked more than 11,000 people from the European Union between the ages of 14-65 about their romantic lives.

Only 2.5% of those surveyed were in open relationships, but for those who were, their reporting for sexual satisfaction were slightly lower.

According to the survey:

71 percent of people in polyamorous or open relationships are satisfied with their sex life compared to 82 percent of people in monogamous relationships and 80 percent of people who are married, in civil unions or partnerships. The least sexually satisfied people are those who are single and looking for a relationship; only 40 percent are satisfied. Single people are also more likely to choose not to divulge information about their sex life.

The increase in sexual satisfaction might just be a matter of proximity. If the person you’re trying to get busy with is in the same room with you, you’re more likely to get it on:

People who live together (as couples with children often do) have readier access to sex than those in relationships who don’t live together. The EU survey only found 275 people, or 2.5 percent of the total, who said they were in open relationships.

RELATED: 4 Ways Weed Works in The Bedroom

If you’re only living with one person—instead of pursuing multiple people—you’re more likely to have regular, satisfying sex. Data shows The most interesting and supporting fact is that the vast majority of open marriages fail- according to research, open marriages have a 92% failure rate. This just goes to show that non-monogamy doesn’t work for the vast majority, especially not in the long term. Whether it is as satisfying to your sense of adventure as the open-relationship folks is up to you.

This Is The Right Temperature For The Perfect Marijuana Dab

Amy Hansen
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This Is The Right Temperature For The Perfect Marijuana Dab

Before getting into the perfect temperature for dabbing, let’s talk about what dabbing is. Nothing like a joint, a dab is a small dose of highly concentrated cannabis heated on a hot surface and then inhaled.

According to The Fresh Toast‘s cannabis editor, Al Olson:

Focus on the word “concentrate” — and fully grasp the meaning. Cannabis concentrates are exactly what they sound like: Take the herb and extract all the THC out of it as you can. The extreme amount of THC in the concentrate means you will need very little (just a dab) to achieve the psychoactive effect.

These nailhead-sized concentrated doses are formed by extracting the THC, usually with the help of a solvent like butane. And according to Olson, “Typical marijuana bud contains roughly 15 to 25 percent THC; concentrates typically range between 65 to 85 percent THC, depending on the type and quality of the product.” It’s possible to overdose on dabbing, so make sure you have a “dab buddy” with you.

Now, how to extract the THC. According to Key to Cannabis, the compounds found in cannabis, like THC, boil/vaporize from 315-440°F (157-227°C) — the minimum temperature required to fully vaporize the cannabinoids and terpenes in your concentrate. “With regards to dabbing, temperature should be looked as a continuum from too low to too high,” advises KTC.

When it comes to dabbing at both low and high temperatures, the publication recommends low temp dabbing for more flavor, and smoother and longer hits. You want high temp dabs if you want a thick smoke with intense effects. (They provide a nice chart examining temperature and effect).

As for whether to use a torch or electric nail for dabbing:

Using a torch, you can heat your nail anywhere from 0-1,000+°F (0-538°C). The same holds true for electric nails, or e-nail, which uses an electric coil to heat the dabbing surface – most coils can be set to temperatures ranging from 0-900°F (0-482°C). The important thing to note with e-nails is that there is a disparity between the temperature setting on the unit and the actual dabbing surface temperature. Meaning that although the heating unit is set to 680°F, the dabbing surface may only be 600°F.

Vape pens also work. Today’s pens even allow you to adjust the heat for this very reason.

But before you start dabbing, make sure you’re not just canna-curious; dabbing is not for the marijuana newbie. Says Olson, “If you have an understanding of how your body reacts to cannabis, give it a try. It’s a different experience than smoking or vaping dried herb.” It’s also considered more addictive than smoking.

This Lady Left A $7,000 Tip By Accident On A $22 Bill

Maria Loreto
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This Lady Left A $7,000 Tip By Accident On A $22 Bill

The whole gratuity situation can get pretty muddled once you’re outside of the US. In some countries, people don’t even tip, or tip something like 10 percent because the waiters’ paychecks already account for their work. It’s complex stuff.

Thanks to a dumb mistake that could happen to anyone, Olesja Schemjakowa accidentally entered her pin number as her tip, resulting in a charge of $7,709. According to Munchies, she found out that she’d done this a month later when the bank mailed her monthly statement.

Olesja is Russian and was having a snack with her son near Zurich at a restaurant called New Point Cafe. Her meal cost around 23 Swiss franks, which equals to $22. This means that she tipped the restaurant 32,000 percent. For whatever reason, the restaurant thought this was normal and that they somehow deserved that amount of money, because they didn’t report it.

A Swiss news outlet reports that Olesja hasn’t been able to get her refund because, according to her bank, an accidental charge isn’t the same as a fraudulent one. Sorry.

The restaurant’s owner did say that’d he’d refund her the seven grand, even though he later stopped all contact with her and New Point recently filed for bankruptcy. This cautionary tale demonstrates that the world is out to get you and that, from now on, you should seriously consider tipping in cash.

Restaurants Are Ditching Vanilla Ice Cream

Amy Hansen
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Restaurants Are Ditching Vanilla Ice Cream

This isn’t exactly a state of emergency, but it’s the second closest thing. There is a vanilla shortage and your ice cream situation may neveer be the same. In fact, many restaurants are excluding vanilla ice cream from menus.

Yes, vanilla has a reputation for being booooring, but that’s not the reason it’s getting dropped from the dessert roster. It’s because plantations of vanilla orchids off the Southeast Coast of Africa were destroyed. But let’s back up.

Related: 20 Insane Ice Cream Flavors From Around The World

High-quality vanilla, specifically Madagascar (where over 75 percent of vanilla is grown), is very precious. In a nutshell (preferably the kind that cradles an ice cream sundae), vanilla is sourced from the pods of vanilla orchids, which have to be hand-pollinated in order to be mass-produced because they are only open for a short amount of time, leaving a small window for natural pollination.

Bet you never pictured that process as you were diving into your a la mode spoon first, huh?

https://giphy.com/gifs/chocolate-ice-cream-gif-Nc2YUm9S3Tt2o

About a year ago, a cyclone knocked out about 30 percent of vanilla crops, according to Madagascar farmers. That means Madagascar vanilla is even more precious. In the U.K., some ice cream makers are paying their suppliers 30 times more for vanilla extract than they did previously. As the BBC reports, “At around $600 per kilo the sweet ingredient costs more than silver.”

So, yeah, you can see why vanilla is getting nixed off of menus in restaurants, scoop shops and anywhere else that serves ice cream.

https://giphy.com/gifs/ice-cream-Xe0BdkKih1vy0

And substitutes are, well, no substitute.

As the BBC states, synthetic flavoring called “vanillin” is not extracted from plants at all; it’s extracted from wood and sometimes even petroleum.

Related: 

And not only is that fact incredibly depressing, more industries are expected to rely on it until the cost of the real thing becomes more affordable. Others are just going to ditch vanilla from their menus all together.

Until then, you’re on your own.

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The Fresh Toast Marijuana Legislative Roundup: May 14

Alec Engber
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The Fresh Toast Marijuana Legislative Roundup: May 14

Last week was a promising one for veterans as a House committee advanced a medical marijuana bill. In Ohio, recreational cannabis took a huge step forward. Find out more in our weekly marijuana legislative roundup.

National:  

On Tuesday, the House Veterans Affairs Committee approved a bill that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to research the medical utility and safety of marijuana for common ailments afflicting veterans. If enacted, the VA Medical Cannabis Research Act would authorize the VA to “conduct and support research relating to the efficacy and safety [of medical marijuana]… on the health outcomes of covered veterans diagnosed with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and other conditions.” The VA would research marijuana in both whole plant and concentrate forms, including at least three different strains of cannabis with varying levels of THC and CBD. A companion bill was also introduced in the Senate.  

A separate provision of a VA funding bill that passed the US House Appropriations Committee Tuesday urges the VA to expand marijuana research. The directive was attached to the Department of Veterans Affairs funding bill for 2019 and requests that the VA study the effectiveness and safety of cannabis-based treatments for PTSD, chronic pain, and other conditions. The amount spent on such research would be determined by the DA Secretary, who is asked to provide a report to Congress within 180 days. However, the provision is attached to the bill in such a way that it is legally nonbinding.  

Ohio: 

On Thursday, a proposed constitutional amendment on recreational cannabis legalization passed a procedural hurdle that could allow it to be placed on the ballot in 2019. After rejecting a previous version of the legislation in April, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine certified the Marijuana Rights and Regulations amendment. It will now go to the state Ballot Board for approval before its backers can begin collecting the 305,591 signatures needed to place it on the ballot, though it is they will be able to gather enough signatures by the July deadline for ballot placement this year. If approved by a majority of voters, the Marijuana Rights and Regulations amendment would allow adults 21 and older to grow, possess, consume, share, sell, and transport marijuana. It would also give the state Legislature authority to devise a licensing and regulatory system and allow municipal control over cannabis businesses, which would only be permitted within precincts where a majority voted in favor of legalization.  

5 Weirdest Takeaways From Goop’s ‘Sex Issue’

Maria Loreto
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5 Weirdest Takeaways From Goop’s ‘Sex Issue’

While Goop has received its fair share of criticism over their, um, unorthodox lifestyle and wellness recommendations, it’s still a pretty successful business with plenty of followers and fans.

Launched by Gwyneth Paltrow in 2008 as a newsletter, Goop evolved into an international company that hosts summits and sells different items, such as vitamin programs and skincare products.

Their latest book, The Sex Issue, discusses all sorts of sex things in a very Goop-y manner, which is funny and also mind-boggling. The book reveals polls from their staff, consults with experts, discusses BDSM, and ethical porn. You know, light reading.

Hollywood Reporter compiled some of the strangest things that the issue covers.

Here are 5 of our favorite take-aways:

Your Dating Profile Should Be A “Lobster Trap”

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That’s a really bad mental image to have, but maybe there’s a useful metaphor in there somewhere. According to Goop, you should chill, because some weeks lobsters wander into your dating profile or “trap”, and on some weeks they don’t. They also say that the “lobster is the most sustainable seafood there is,” which, thanks, I guess?

In conclusion, Goop’s metaphors suck and you should also avoid stressing out while using dating apps.

Look For “Quirky Places To Get It On”

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In one section of the book, Goop staff-members list the weirdest — sorry, quirkiest — places where they’ve ever had sex, including a rain forest and a child’s pirate ship.

The “Sacred Snake Ceremony”

https://giphy.com/gifs/pretty-snake-jungle-book-2lbhL8dSGMh8I

Nope, the “sacred snake” in this instance is not a penis, it’s an actual snake. This ritual advised by a spiritual intimacy leader allows you to tap into your “divine feminine power,” by vibing with legit SNAKES. According to this crazy person, snakes are energy masters, capable of unlocking a woman’s sensuality whenever the ritual is conducted.

Condoms Have Dairy In Them

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Oh no, what will the vegans do? Goop also advises on buying water-based lubricant, and suggest, if you’re really concerned about the dairy in condoms, to buy the vegan-friendly option called Sustain, which — wouldn’t you know it — they sell on their site for $29.

Drink Lots Of Water

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The editors call this their “GOOP-iest sex tip ever.” So, yeah.

You can buy The Sex Issue on their website or on Amazon for $26.

How Does Medical Marijuana Work? Here’s The Science

Richard Faulk
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How Does Medical Marijuana Work? Here’s The Science

For all the devilish complexity of medical marijuana research (and it is quite, quite complex), the basic idea is easy to grasp. Here’s a breakdown:

  • The active ingredients of marijuana are called cannabinoids. There are dozens of them, but the ones best understood are delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which makes us stoned, and cannabidiol (CBD), which doesn’t.
  • It’s networks of receptor proteins that enable the cannabinoids to work in our bodies. We know of two types: CB1, which are found in the nerves, particularly in certain regions of the brain; and CB2, which are primarily in other areas, particularly our guts.
  • The CB1 and CB2 networks make up the endocannabinoid system, which includes the body’s homegrown versions of THC and CBD, the best known (that is to say, the least poorly understood) of which is ananadamide. We don’t know much about the endocannabinoid system. In fact, it was only discovered in the mid-1980s (in the same year we were discovering the Pet Shop Boys). Cracking its code is the key to medical marijuana research.
  • Because of the receptor location, scientists assumed that the cannabinoids (both endo- and exo-) would have some effect on motor coordination, mood, the perception of pain, the protection and natural death of brain cells, and the development of the immune system (in which the intestines play an important role). Studies have largely born out these assumptions.
  • There are hundreds of other components of marijuana, particularly in marijuana smoke. Most are not unique to cannabis and some may have medical benefits. Of course some are simply terrible for you, too. There may be some strange synergy between the cannabinoids (both unknown and unknown) and other ingredients that give “whole leaf” cannabis superpowers beyond the reach of pure, synthetic forms of THC and CBD. At least that’s a claim of some proponents of medical marijuana. But it is yet to be proven.

If you want to explore the science of marijuana in more depth, why not try the book whose name says it all: The Science of Marijuana, by Oxford biochemist Leslie Iverson. (FYI: Leslie is male—not that it makes any difference; just very British.)

If you prefer not to pay for your information, you are a terrible person. But you can download for free Marijuana as Medicine? Assessing the Science Base from the National Academic Press.

Both books were written before the turn of the millennium (although Iverson revised his in 2007), so their clinical reviews are a bit outdated. But they are accessible to us non-scientists, and their basic information is as sound as ever.

If you want even more depth, keep an eye on Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, the only peer-reviewed, open access journal of its kind. It just launched in July 2016, but it promises to be a thought-provoking and reliable resource. The editor-in-chief, Daniele Piomelli, is a professor at the University of California, Irvine, and a 20 year veteran of cannabis research.

Effects Of Cannabis On The Teen Brain Lasts This Long

Trey Reckling
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Effects Of Cannabis On The Teen Brain Lasts This Long

The underpinnings that supported the logic for federal prohibition on cannabis seem to crumble a bit more each day. A study released in the publication JAMA Psychiatry chips away at a major chunk of that foundation. Studies show that the negative effects of cannabis on the brains of teenagers seem to only last three days. After 72 hours without consuming, no loss of cognitive function detected.

This was a meta-analysis study, so it’s a review of existing research over a 44 year period beginning in the 1970s and including over 8,500 subjects collectively. The subjects had a mean age of 20-years-old. Of those, about 2,000 were cannabis users.

In the study’s conclusion, researchers state:

Associations between cannabis use and cognitive functioning in cross-sectional studies of adolescents and young adults are small and may be of questionable clinical importance for most individuals.”

The researchers concluded that much of the past hysteria over reduction in IQ, poor aptitude performance and lessened academic success has been “overstated.

“Overstated” is a nice word to describe the work of former fellow researchers who have played into the hands of the Reefer Madness crowd. They are talking about not just one study, but an overview of 69 professional studies over the dozens of years. Overstated. That’s what happens when science funding is largely dictated by poor policy and hyperbole.

Over the years, millions of our taxpayer dollars have been spent to educate us about teen cannabis users having lower IQs, stunted brain development and long-term negatively affected memory and problem-solving abilities. Overstated. That is a generous word to use. 

“That was the biggest surprise. There is biological plausibility that cannabis could cause changes in the brain that is still developing. But the abstinence data we have indicates that while those effects are detectable, they seem to go away after more than three days of abstinence,”  J. Cobb Scott, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine, told Time Magazine.

This lends more credence to the Canadian decision to allow consumption and purchase of legal cannabis at 18 years old. That decision had been criticized by some based on the very research that is now being called into question.

Does this mean that parents have less to stand on when it comes to guiding their children to making smart decisions when it comes to the herb? Absolutely not. But it does mean that these old truths do not hold up anymore in an argument.

Young people are enabled with the internet and access to information. They can fact check and do their own research on what is currently known. They are smart, and the cannabis users among them are no less so, as we have learned. So, instead, let’s have a conversation based on facts, not hype. Young people are likely to respect us for it and, as a result, more likely to hear what we have to think about keeping them safe.

5 Products To Help Pass A Drug Test

Maria Loreto
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5 Products To Help Pass A Drug Test

While marijuana is legal in many states, it’s still okay for employers and figures of authority to ask for a drug test. If you’re a regular marijuana user this means trouble, especially when the test is sprung on you out of nowhere. Getting your body clean is a process that, no matter how hard you try, takes some time. How fast you can “cleanse” your body mostly depends on how regularly you consume marijuana.

While the following five methods have offered positive results in the past, it’s very important to know that they’re not miracle workers and that tricking a drug test is really hard. There’s honestly no better way to pass a test than by staying clean for a couple of weeks, eating healthy, and drinking tons of water.

Easy @ Home Drug Screen Test

This product tests you urine, helping you see if you’re ready to pass your drug test or not. While it may not help you get clean any faster, it could help you prepare for your test and see how long it takes for your body to get rid of drugs completely.

Quick Fix Plus Synthetic Urine

This kit is super cheap, which is weird considering that it comes with a heating pad and some fake urine. Still, if the drug test you’re trying to pass is in any way serious it’ll probably be able to distinguish synthetic urine from real one that came from a body. The real question is: How desperate are you?

Nutra Cleanse Clean Caps

These cleanse capsules use different sets of ingredients to detox your body and flush out your toxins rapidly. It also helps if you drink tons of water. While the capsules claim that they provide results within 90 minutes, most users claim that they take a longer period of time to take effect.

Rapid Clear Detox Cleanse Shampoo

If you’re taking a hair drug test then this shampoo might just be what you need. It’s designed to strip all toxins away from your hair follicles without damaging your hair. The guys who made the shampoo also suggest to use their conditioner. Maybe both work better together, or maybe they just wanted to make more money.

Oral Clear Chewing Gum

This gum works for saliva tests. It’s pretty easy to use. According to the label, you’re supposed to chew it for 30 seconds and then spit it back out, allowing you to have neutral saliva for over 30 minutes. While the time constraints sound a little scary — is your tongue going to fall out? — it also sounds pretty legitimate.

The bad thing about these chewing gums is the fact that they’re pretty pricey, costing over $90 per chew. For your mission to be successful, you’ll also have to time yourself perfectly.

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