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This Is How Cannabis Can Save Lives In The Opioid Epidemic Battle

Trey Reckling
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This Is How Cannabis Can Save Lives In The Opioid Epidemic Battle

Americans love their painkillers and it is killing us in record numbers. We make up only five percent of the world’s population, but we consume over 80 percent of the world’s opioid medicine. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that 116 people die as a result every day. It has been estimated that over 11.5 million people misuse the potentially lethal medicine every year. Epidemic is not a term used for dramatic effect. It is the largest drug abuse crisis we have ever faced as a nation. 

Is it any wonder that people would be willing to look for a new answer to address the dangers? The Connecticut state Board of Physicians is considering adding opioid use disorders and opioid withdrawal to the list of qualifying conditions allowing a person to use medical marijuana. If approved, it would make the state the first of any in the country to include these conditions in its medical marijuana program.  

In 2010 the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment refused to add opioid dependence as a condition approved to be one of the qualifying conditions to receive medical marijuana. They did this despite the fact that annual opioid deaths in the state reversed direction and began a slight decline after cannabis was made legal in the state.   

While legal cannabis exists in a patchwork of state laws, it is still considered by the federal government to have no currently accepted medical use. In 2009 the American Medical Association, AMA, urged the federal government to reconsider the fact that cannabis is listed as a Schedule I controlled substance to facilitate research and a better understanding of the herb. In their professional, peer-reviewed journal, they have published data showing that “ Medical cannabis laws are associated with significantly lower state-level opioid overdose mortality rates.” 

The National Bureau of Economic Research has stated, “Our findings suggest that providing broader access to medical marijuana may have the potential benefit of reducing abuse of highly addictive painkillers.” 

So, even though we are not certain that more widely available cannabis will help with this crushing epidemic, some professionals are willing to step ahead of many of their peers to try new therapies. One example is the “Cannabis-Inclusive Recovery” practiced at High Sobriety, a residential treatment center in Los Angeles that promotes a drug recovery program that is not total abstinence approach like most others. Cannabis is incorporated to help patients stay off of harder drugs. 

Detractors argue that it is far too early to make assumptions about the effect of cannabis on the public’s use of prescriptions and harder drugs. In many ways, their argument is a valid one. We must always urge caution when opening opportunities for the public to be exposed to drugs of any kind. If the same caution had been at play before major drug companies flooded the market with opiates and even stronger synthetic opiates, we may not find ourselves at this critical point in this country.

Times of crisis can lead to ingenuity and resourcefulness that can lead to new approaches. But with over 100 deaths a day, we have no time to wait. We know that cannabis kills no one. That has been verified in studies and supported by thousands of years of human use. It seems well worth our time to give it a serious try in real time as we continue to do more formal research. Many people don’t have time to wait for more data. 

Forbes: Legal Cannabis Will Create One Million Jobs By 2025

Mary Schumacher
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Forbes: Legal Cannabis Will Create One Million Jobs By 2025

According to a report by marijuana analytic group New Frontier, legalizing cannabis on the federal level would create 654,000 jobs in the immediate future and one million jobs by 2025. The move would also result in $105.6 billion in revenue between now and 2025. These are incredible numbers and as Forbes reported, “It’s clear that marijuana legalization can be a boon to local economies with robust regulatory regimes in place.”

The last several decades have been an uphill battle to first get medical marijuana in a few select states and now we’re here, with over half of the US legalized either medically  or recreationally. From California to Maine, the ambiance has been that of the Wild West, forging new territory and making pathways for future activists.

We still have that outlaw culture, and should never let its spirit slip away, but regulatory measures are going to be key in moving our now robust movement into the mainstream where it can thrive. From proper labeling to grow op oversight, we must continue to create a safe market that thrives on its smart, forward movement.

And progress didn’t just get us to where we are now, it’s sped up so that change is being made at a rapid clip. States are starting to legalize via legislation and some states, like New Jersey, are climbing their way up the cannabis ladder, much to the delight and surprise of their constituents.

But if you want to follow the money, take Pueblo, Colorado for instance. Taxed and regulated cannabis made more than $58 million for the local economy in 2016, according to the Denver Post. To put a cherry on top, in an in depth report, researchers found no correlation between cannabis and increased homelessness or increased youth usage. The poverty line has also remained steady, with no up or downtick.

Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace feels validation from the report, stating, “More than two dozen Ph.D.s worked on this. It’s really the first of its kind, a really all-inclusive look at cannabis legalization in a community.” He went on to say, “The good news for the citizens of Colorado, is this has been a net positive for our community.”

People With This Trait Are Considered More Attractive

Amy Hansen
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People With This Trait Are Considered More Attractive

Beauty is only skin deep, but being bilingual can reach all the way to your heart (or at the very least, your groin),

EliteSingles magazine and language learning app Babbel surveyed  more than 6,000 singles from 11 countries, asking them what trait they found most attractive. Hands down, speaking another language boosted a person’s attraction. A whopping 75 percent of those surveyed said they think it’s attractive when someone speaks more than one language.

Result skewed even higher in the US, where 78 percent said they’re more attracted to people who can speak another tongue.

In fact, according to EliteSingles:

The survey also revealed another surprising fact: not only is multi or bilingualism attractive, it’s actually seen as more swoon-worthy than classic attraction factors like having a six-pack/ an athletic build. In fact, nearly all of US respondents (93 percent) would rather date someone with great language skills than date someone with a gym-honed body.

https://giphy.com/gifs/justin-bieber-gif-9Pjt6QmxS0BDW

Forty-two percent said they find another language attractive because of their interest in other cultures, while 23 percent reported being attracted to “they mystery” of a foreign language. An additional 20 percent said speaking another language was a sign of intelligence.

So, what language is the most attractive? Americans rank French as the winner (53 percent), followed by Italian (32 percent), and Spanish (30 percent).

https://giphy.com/gifs/flight-of-the-conchords-KKI3fqPszOl3i

“Being able to communicate is fundamental to human interaction,” explains Julie Hansen, CEO US of Babbel. ‘’It’s no surprise that in 2018, in the global society that we all live in, being able to speak other languages is such an important quality in a partner.”

Sophie Watson of EliteSingles, agreed, saying that ‘’connection and great communication are vital parts of a first date – especially if you want to land a second one,” and says the survey proves that “the body’s most attractive muscle is the mind!’’

What Happened? Cannabis Farmer Gets $1 Million Insurance Payment

Terry Hacienda
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What Happened? Cannabis Farmer Gets $1 Million Insurance Payment

Here’s something that never would have happened without marijuana legalization: A California cannabis farmer received a $1 million insurance payout after ashes from the deadly wildfires destroyed his crop.

According to a report in the Santa Barbara Independent, many Northern California cannabis farms damaged by last fall’s wildfires were uninsured. But one grower in Carpinteria, a small oceanside city located in southeastern Santa Barbara County, will get compensated for his losses.

According to the report:

“A lot of this wasn’t insurable,” said Matt Porter, a vice president at Brown & Brown Insurance, one of the largest firms in the world. But in the last several months, Porter and his colleagues have won over area cannabis operators. They now have about 20 clients in Carpinteria and Lompoc, he said. They are expected to get up to $8 million in insurance claim payments for their Carpinteria clients.

Mere months before the Thomas Fire spread throughout large chunks of the state, Porter had written the crop insurance policy for the Carpinteria cannabis grower, the Independent reported. The policy language covered “change in atmospheric conditions” — that triggered the $1 million payout.

White ash particles circulated throughout the region, damaging the marijuana crop with high levels of asbestos, lead, arsenic, and magnesium.

A little bit of bad news: Because the payout was so large, the insurance carrier will no longer cover cannabis farmers. Porter said he is in talks with other carriers in Europe to fill the gap.

Last summer and fall, wildfires torched the western states, damaging property, homes and farms throughout the region. In Northern California alone, the National Interagency Fire Center estimates that 411,742 acres were destroyed or damaged by 3,692 fires.

How Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Kept Their Love Hidden

Maria Loreto
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How Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Kept Their Love Hidden

It’s hard to imagine Prince Harry and Meghan Markle not being under the media spotlight, but there was a time when the couple was quietly dating and no one suspected a thing.

Katie Nicholl, the world’s foremost expert on British royals, sat down with Town & Country to discuss her new book, Harry: Life, Loss and Love, where she discusses how the couple managed to keep things on the DL and how Markle was different than Harry’s previous girlfriends.

Nicholl has written books on British royals for most of her career, publishing different best sellers such as William & Harry, Kate: The Future Queen and Making of a Royal Romance. 

She expresses that Prince Harry is quite talented at flying under the radar and keeping his business to himself, like Prince William and Kate. Harry used his usual set of tricks to keep his relationship with Markle under the radar and away from the media, taking scheduled flights, wearing baseball caps and dressing casually. Markle tended to visit him in London, where they could have more protection within the Palace.

They also spent some time in Toronto, where close friends would host them. According to Nicholl, Harry and Meghan were open with their inner circle of friends, who respected their relationship and helped them maintain their secret.

She also claims that Markle was different from Harry’s other girlfriends because she was older and knew what she wanted and what she had to give up to be a part of Harry’s life. Nicholl says “I think it was quite significant that she is older than him. This is a woman with experience, and I think that was a real call for Harry. Up until then, the two big loves of his life who he did truly love were younger, more inexperienced, less willing to accommodate everything his lifestyle brought with it.”

Illinois Voters Green Light Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative

Mike Adams
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Illinois Voters Green Light Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative

Illinois voters want state lawmakers to know that the time has come to drag marijuana from the underground and legalize it for recreational use. Two-thirds of the population want legal weed, according to ballot questions pushed through earlier this week in Cook County.

On Tuesday, 63 percent of voters responded “yes” when asked in a referendum, “Shall the State of Illinois legalize the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products for recreational use by adults 21 and older subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?” Nearly 260,000 people stood up in support of changing the state’s law against marijuana, while around 150,000 voted against it.

Although the ballot measure is non-binding, state lawmakers now know where the public stands on the issue of legal weed. For the past several years, legislation designed to bring a taxed and regulated cannabis trade to the Land of Lincoln has been discussed in the halls of the General Assembly. But there has not been enough support to bring it to fruition.

Republican Governor Bruce Rauner hasn’t helped matters. Calling it a “mistake,” he believes the state should wait and see what happens in Colorado and California “before we make any decision about it here.” The governor says he is concerned that drug addiction rates might skyrocket if this reform is allowed to take hold.

But there are potential leaders in line for the governor’s seat who do not feel the same.

Voters all across the state hit the polls on Tuesday to pick gubernatorial nominees. Some of the Democratic candidates, including Tuesday’s fan favorite, billionaire businessman J.B. Pritzker, have said that legalizing the leaf would be one of their first lines of business if elected. But Rauner is still holding strong in the primaries. The outcome of marijuana legalization could ultimately come down to which candidate take the reins.

“This campaign is about a fight for economic security about jobs, and wages, health care, education and human services for working families in Illinois,” Pritzker told the Chicago Tribune.

The Democratic nominee understands that legal marijuana would be a boon to the state economy. Some of the latest data shows the state stands to generate in upwards of $700 million a year in tax revenue through the sale of recreational cannabis.

Illinois continues to struggle with budgetary issues, so there is a desperate need for this form of income boost. A report published last week by Forbes shows that marijuana legalization can help rebuild struggling communities.

Study: Can Marijuana Help Regrow Human Brain Cells?

Amy Hansen
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Study: Can Marijuana Help Regrow Human Brain Cells?

It’s been a popular claim with marijuana proponents that cannabis can help regrow brain cells, and it can…in animals. New research reveals that while experiments on rodents and other mammals have showed some brain cell regrowth in the past, it’s not quite the same with human adults, unfortunately.

That’s not great news for those suffering from degenerative brain diseases like dementia, ALS and Alzheimer’s. But it is a little more hopeful when you take into account that this study focused solely on the hippocampus and that other parts of the brain that marijuana may have had an effect on were not documented, at least for this research.

According to The Atlantic:

…a team led by Arturo Alvarez-Buylla at the University of California at San Francisco completely failed to find any trace of young neurons in dozens of hippocampus samples, collected from adult humans. “If neurogenesis continues in adult humans, it’s extremely rare,” says Alvarez-Buylla. “It’s not as robust as what people have said, where you could go running and pump up the number of neurons.”

That polarizing statement, as you can imagine, has been debated by people like Heather Cameron from the National Institutes of Mental Health, who tells The Atlantic, “There is a long history of concluding that adult neurogenesis doesn’t exist in a given species based on difficulty in identifying new neurons. This happened in rats and then in nonhuman primates, both of which are now universally acknowledged as showing adult hippocampal neurogenesis.”

The debate over whether or not humans can regenerate brain cells is still, well, up for debate. It will likely only be fully known what’s possible as more and new research is conducted.

Suffer From Psoriasis? This Cannabis Cream Is Here To Help

MJ News Network
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Suffer From Psoriasis? This Cannabis Cream Is Here To Help

An Israeli developer of cannabinoid-based therapies targeting a variety of different medical conditions and disorders, announced it has received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval to conduct safety testing on its proprietary topical crème compound for the treatment of psoriasis and related skin conditions.

The approval follows OWC Pharmaceutical Research Corp’s extension to the size and scope of its efficacy study on the same compound, which began November of 2017.

The IRB approved study encompasses the cream itself, as a delivery mechanism, as well as the proprietary psoriasis formulation, and is the first to formally make such claims with the NIH Registry. The double-blind study, which will be conducted on healthy volunteers at one of Israel’s leading academic hospitals, is designed to demonstrate the safety of the formulation in treating psoriasis on human skin tissue. Administrators began soliciting for study participants as soon as approval was received.

“This approval is a significant milestone for OWC, where our mission is to bring the same rigorous approach common to traditional pharmaceutical development to the medical cannabis field. As we reported earlier this year, the results of our efficacy studies were so encouraging that management decided it was in our interest to extend the size and scope of the study to check the biological markers that had been generated to date, among other things, “ said Dr. Yehuda Baruch, OWC’s director of research and regulatory affairs.

Dr. Baruch went on to say, “With each study we conduct, the ability of our formulation to provide relief for psoriasis-related symptoms to patients suffering from the condition are substantiated. The study that was just approved was designed to assure patients and caregivers that it is safe to use outside of laboratory conditions.”

Ziv Turner, vice president of business development and managing director of One World Cannabis, Ltd., the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, went on to say, “As soon as we announced the formulation of our psoriasis treatment we began receiving requests for the product from patients suffering from the condition. After many years of research and development, this is the final study as we prepare to introduce it to the market. We expect to the program will be in full swing by the end of the month and hope to have it completed by during the second quarter of 2017, and in the hands of patients shortly thereafter.”

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes red, scaly patches to appear on the skin, and can be associated with other serious health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and depression. Skin cells in patients with psoriasis grow at an abnormally fast rate, causing a buildup of lesions that tend to burn and itch.

While the real cause of psoriasis is not known, genetics are believed to play a major role in its development. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis affects 7.5 million people in the United States.

Starbucks Releasing Frappuccino Built To Blow Up IG

Amy Hansen
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Starbucks Releasing Frappuccino Built To Blow Up IG

Not one to back down from a viral Instagram drink idea, Starbucks is debuting a new Frappuccino called the Crystal Ball, specifically to appeal to social media. The drink, just like the wildly successful Unicorn Frapp, is colorful, whimsical and photo ready.

While Starbucks corporate headquarters has yet to confirm the release date of the turquoise, peach-flavored drink, baristas are already posting pics online and neighborhood shops are not exactly being quiet about it either. According to them, the drink will make its debut Thursday and only be available for four days, or while supplies last.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfYuV6gvjk/

The Crystal Ball Frappuccino doesn’t look quite as impressive as the radioacative-colored Unicorn, although it does sound just as cavity-inducing: a cream-based Frappuccino flavored with peach syrup and topped with whip and rock candy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BggQ8XNgfDJ

If you recall, the Unicorn Frappuccino was so popular, baristas were threatening to quit over it, because they could barely keep up with demand (and those multi-step drinks are a bitch to make!). But for every barista who snarled at the thought of having to make the intricate drink, there were about a thousand pics posted on Instagram, creating FOMO one fluoride-colored  swirl at a time.

As Business Insider reports, Starbucks’ Frappuccino sales haven’t been as successful as the Unicorn Frapp would have you think. In fact, sales have sucked for the past two years, with the company announcing plans to end its popular Frappuccino Happy Hour after the promotion failed to spike sales last summer.

However, the Unicorn Frappuccino did drive sales significantly when it debuted last April. And now, the company is hoping that lightening strikes twice with the Crystal Ball. If only the drink could actually see into the future we’d already know the answer.

Drunk Shopping Is A Thing And People Are Going Broke Doing It

Amy Hansen
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Drunk Shopping Is A Thing And People Are Going Broke Doing It

Sipping and clicking is a boon for the economy. Like, to the tune of $30 billion.

A new survey by Finder, which exists to help people make better financial decisions, shows that after just a couple of innocent drinks, all hell can break loose online. The number of people who purchase items online after getting a little buzzed? 68 million. And those are just the ones who admitted to drunk shopping. That number translates to about $447 per person spent — double the numbers from the previous year.

Here are some other statistics:

According to Finder, nearly 61 percent of shoppers say they spend the most on food when they’re tipsy—duh— followed by shoes and clothes (25.09 percent) and gambling (24.91 percent).

And while the survey finds that Millennials are most likely to shop while drunk, Gen Xers spend the most money on their drunk purchases, averaging $738.87 per purchase — more than triple the amount that millennials spent.

The study also finds something pretty interesting, seeing as how women are plagued with the stereotype of being shopaholics:

Surprisingly, men spend almost double that of women when under the influence, averaging a total $564.51 per spend, compared to women, who spend an average $282.65. Compounding this, men are also more likely to buy while boozed up, with 48.19 percent of men who drink regularly admitting to a drunken shop, compared with the 41.36 percent of women who do so.

And it’s absolutely not surprising that single people spend more while under the influence than married people: 55.78 percent vs. 43.63 percent. However, those married folk are likely to spend twice as much on “spontaneous drunk purchases” than their divorced counterparts: $327.62 vs. $147.71.

Hey, at least most of this stuff is probably returnable, right?

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