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Adolescents are over three times more vulnerable to developing a cannabis addiction than adults, but may not be at increased risk of other mental health problems related to the drug, finds a new study led by UCL and King’s College London researchers.

The study, published today in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, found that adolescents who used cannabis were no more likely to have higher levels of subclinical depression or anxiety than adults who use cannabis, nor were they more vulnerable than adult users to the associations with psychotic-like symptoms.

These findings build on a separate study by the same team, published recently in Psychopharmacology that found adolescents were not more vulnerable to associations between chronic cannabis use and cognitive impairment.

Lead author Dr Will Lawn (UCL Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit and Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London) said:

“There is a lot of concern about how the developing teenage brain might be more vulnerable to the long-term effects of cannabis, but we did not find evidence to support this general claim.

“Cannabis addiction is a real issue that teenagers should be aware of, as they appear to be much more vulnerable to it than adults.

The Albanian government has put a draft law on legalising medical cannabis up for public consultation, sparking an angry reaction from opposition politicians. 

The news was announced shortly after the latest World Drug Report 2022 from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that Albania is one of the top countries worldwide for cannabis cultivation and distribution. 

This is despite well publicised efforts by the Albanian government to eradicate its cultivation, notably with the large-scale operation at Lazarat – dubbed Europe’s ‘marijuana mountain’ back in 2014, shortly before Albania secured EU candidate status. However, reports since then indicate that drug cultivation has been rising. The country also lies on the Balkan route for transportation of heroin to Europe. 

According to the draft law, licences will be issued to cultivate a maximum of 150 hectares. Further conditions are also planned, including that the licence holder have a background in cultivating medicinal plants, and 51% of assets in a company that grows products or byproducts of cannabis in an OECD country. Companies must also have capital of ALL100mn (aound €840,000). 

Applicants will be scrutinised by the National Agency for Control and Monitoring of Cannabis Plant Cultivation and Processing.

However, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha slammed the poposal, saying it would be an “immense support” for crime around the world and a “black dot” on Albania, reported Euronews Albania. 

Geographically, the APAC industrial hemp market is predicted to witness the fastest growth during 2021–2030

The value of the industrial hemp market in 2021 was $,4452.0 million, and with a CAGR of 33.7% from 2021 to 2030, it is expected to reach $60,682.8 million. Hemp belongs to the same flora species as cannabis. The only distinguishing feature is that it contains low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). According to the U.S. 2018 farm law, hemp is not considered cannabis if it contains 0.3% or less THC.

Hemp cultivation is permitted in 36 countries globally, and the crop is expected to cater to the increasing bast fiber demand for high-quality textiles. Selling hemp and hemp products is legal in the U.S., as numerous states have legalized its farming. Moreover, Canada has focused on hemp cultivation for seed production, as it is widely used in the food and cosmetics industries. Recently, it also started to utilize this crop for building materials, insulation, and composites. China exports hemp fibers to Europe and Northern America.

Since the legalization of industrial hemp cultivation, a surge in the industrial hemp market size is being witnessed. In the U.S., hemp with less than 0.3% THC has been removed from the controlled substances definition. Similarly, the cultivation of cannabis varieties with less than 0.2% THC is legal in the European Union. The Chinese National Anti-Drug Committee also announced in 2019 that CBD is not a controlled drug anymore and removed it from the narcotic drugs list. Further, cannabis with 0.3% or less THC can be grown in certain regions of China.

The food industry dominated the industrial hemp market in 2021, accounting for more than 25% share. Hemp is utilized as a source of fiber and oil seeds in various industrial products. That’s why industrial hemp is grown as an agricultural commodity in more than 25 countries. For more than 5,000 years, hemp seeds and oil have been used in the human diet in APAC and Europe. Butter pastes, non-dairy milk, non-dairy cheeses, non-soy tofu, salad oils, and health bars are the major food products with hemp seeds and hemp oil.

The burgeoning usage of hemp in the pharmaceutical industry is a major industrial hemp market growth driver. There are numerous benefits of hemp, which allows it to be used to treat and mitigate various health conditions. Hemp contains a favorable omega-6-to-omega-3-PUFA ratio, which provides support in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, lessens osteoporosis symptoms, and alleviates eczema symptoms. Moreover, CBD serves as an agent for the treatment of illnesses of the central nervous system, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Cannabis use does not seem to be associated with more respiratory-related emergency department visits compared non-users of the drug

Cannabis use is not associated with more respiratory-related visits to an emergency department in comparison to those who do not use the drug although it is associated with a greater proportion of overall emergency department visits. This was the main conclusion of a propensity-matched study by a group of researchers from Ontario, Canada.

Cannabis (or marijuana) is the most commonly used addictive drug after tobacco and alcohol. The use of cannabis is associated with respiratory problems such as chronic bronchitis symptoms and large airway inflammation and in fact, heavy use may lead to airflow obstruction. Despite this evidence of adverse respiratory effects, a 2018 systematic review concluded that there was low-strength evidence that smoking cannabis was associated with cough, sputum production, and wheezing and that there was insufficient evidence of an association between use of the drug and obstructive lung disease. Nevertheless, one study has suggested that daily cannabis smoking, even in the absence of tobacco, is associated with an elevated risk of health care use for various health problems.

With some uncertainty over the respiratory effects of cannabis, in the present study, the Canadian team wanted to examine the magnitude of the association between the use of cannabis and adverse respiratory-related emergency department visits. They conducted a retrospective analysis linking health survey and health administrative data for residents of Ontario. Individuals who self-reported any use of cannabis (the exposed group) within the past year were matched 1:3 (to increase the sample size) with control individuals, which were those who self-reported no use of the drug. The primary outcome for the study was a respiratory-related emergency department visit or hospitalisation which included both upper and lower respiratory tract infections, respiratory failure, asthma or COPD as the reason for presentation at the hospital. As a secondary outcome, the team assessed all-cause emergency department visits.

Cannabis use and respiratory-related hospital visits

A total of 35,114 individuals were included in the analysis, of whom, 6,425 with a mean age of 32.2 years (38.8% female) were self-reported cannabis users. Overall, 42.5% of those using the drug did so less than once a month with a much smaller proportion (10.5%) reporting daily use.

A Pennsylvania bill approved last week by a legislative committee would protect registered medical cannabis patients from prosecution under the state’s zero-tolerance policy for THC.

Pennsylvania medical cannabis patients would receive some protection from being convicted for driving under the influence if a bill making its way through the state legislature is passed and signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf. The measure, Senate Bill 167, was approved last week by the Senate Transportation Committee with a vote of 13-0.

If approved, the legislation sponsored by state Senator Camera Bartolotta would eliminate Pennsylvania’s zero-tolerance policy for THC, which has been used without proof of impairment to penalize drivers who are registered medicinal cannabis patients.

“Senate Bill 167 is critically needed to protect the medical cannabis community as the penalties for a controlled substance significantly escalate,” Bartolotta told the Transportation Committee before last week’s vote.

Pennsylvania has more than 700,000 registered patients who have qualified to use medicinal cannabis since the medical marijuana program launched in 2018. However, the state’s zero-tolerance drug law puts patients at risk, whether they are under the influence of cannabis or not.

“Under current law, medical cannabis patients can be arrested, prosecuted, and convicted – even if they’re not impaired,” said Bartolotta.

Liz Kirkaldie’s grandson was near the top of his class in high school and a talented jazz bassist when he started smoking pot. The more serious he got about music, the more serious he got about pot.

And the more serious he got about pot, the more paranoid, even psychotic, he became. He started hearing voices.

“They were going to kill him and there were people coming to eat his brain. Weird, weird stuff,” Kirkaldie said.

“I woke up one morning, and no Kory anywhere. Well, it turns out, he’d been running down Villa Lane here totally naked.”

Kory went to live with his grandmother for a couple of years in Napa, California. She thought maybe she could help. Now, she says that was naive.

Kory was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Kirkaldie blames the pot.

Some analysts have become more optimistic about the stock.

Aurora Cannabis (ACB -5.10%) is one of the most beaten-down cannabis stocks in the entire industry. Investors will recall that back in 2018, Aurora announced it was acquiring medical marijuana company MedReleaf for more than $2.5 billion in what at the time was the sector's largest deal. Today, Aurora is worth about one-fifth of that value, with a market cap of over $400 million.

Some precautions and tips for smoking or sipping in soaring temps.

Record heat events are starting to become the norm these days. Much of the US has already experienced multiple heat waves, and summer has only just begun. When the weather gets oppressively hot, there is not much you can do to improve the situation other than to stay hydrated, and if you consume cannabis, maybe get high and hope for a breeze.

Enjoying some quality THC on a particularly hot day can certainly improve your mood, even if it can't make it cooler. There may even be some physical benefits to getting high on a hot day. But there are some precautions and considerations to think about when you decide to get high and embrace the soaring temperatures. Here are five things to remember about marijuana during these brutal summer heat waves.

1. Don't let your edibles melt

Edibles are great for all sorts of occasions. Long plane rides, might nights and days in nature can often be improved by a gummy or piece or THC chocolate. It is important to remember, however, that these products can easily melt and perish in the heat, and extreme heat can render them almost useless.

"I recommend tinctures and flower as they won't quickly break down in high heat," cannabis educator Emma Chasen told MedMen. When you do purchase edibles, make sure you store them somewhere safe, and only take out what you need during the hot months.

2. Summer heat can weaken your weed

Just like with edibles, all your weed needs to be stored properly in these extreme temperatures. Remember to store your weed in a cool dark place, especially if you are an infrequent user or like to buy in bulk. As we have previously reported, sunlight can break down and weaken the product and heat can induce moisture and cause mold.

There is no single answer or solution for how to improve the current state of cannabis in indigenous Sovereign nations because the issue is complicated, and opinions and challenges vary from tribe to tribe throughout the land.

Many lawmakers continue to say marijuana policy should be left up to individual states. Often, they then proceed to either oppose federal marijuana legalization, or deflect back to their opinion that it is a state issue. With more states legalizing marijuana, it may seem that slowly but surely the United States might fully legalize marijuana with or without federal legislation. This logic, however, overlooks a major group of people: Native Americans. 

Cannabis and its tricky legality among indigenous people and their sovereign nations continues to be a topic so unresolved that the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs launched a hearing called “Cannabis In Indian Country,” which had a listening session recently.

While this committee may spark some necessary dialogue and highlight major issues on the subject, there is not one universal opinion or solution. This is because nearly every Tribal Nation has its own unique views and challenges when it comes to marijuana legalization. 

A sovereign nation, by definition, should have supreme authority over how it runs, but history has shown this is not always the case with Native American Nations, and this includes marijuana laws. While many rules and governance can not be infringed upon by the federal government “Under US law, however, Congress has the authority to legislate on tribal issues. Thus, in the context of marijuana legalization efforts in Indian Country, federal laws may affect legalization implementation,” according to the CDC.

Federally recognized Native American tribes, of which there are well over 500, are often caught in limbo when it comes to marijuana legalization.

With dozens of states passing some form of cannabis legislation in the past decade, more people than ever are using marijuana for either medical or recreational purposes. According to recent research, regular cannabis use has a minimal effect on a user’s physical health. The study adds to the growing body of research on how marijuana affects pulmonary, cardiovascular and other biological functions. Since federal law has made it virtually impossible for researchers to study cannabis for the past few decades, most of the research on the effects of regular cannabis use is quite new. This recent study, whose findings were reported in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal, sought to investigate the effect of regular (once a week) cannabis use on physical health. The results indicated that the plant didn’t have detrimental effects. The research involved data from roughly 300 pairs of twins which was sourced from the University of Colorado Boulder’s “Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan Behavioural Development and Cognitive Aging” study. This is an ongoing study of cognitive aging in twins from infancy to adulthood to determine how different influences in childhood and adulthood affect cognitive functioning. The researchers specifically tracked factors that influence declines, maintenance or boosts in cognitive abilities. Jessica Megan Ross, the study’s lead researcher, and her team looked at how these factors affected dizygotic twins, who share 50% of their genes, and monozygotic twins, who share 100% of their genes. They also drew data from a larger study that has been assessing twins and siblings on a yearly basis from birth into early adulthood.

After analyzing the data, the researchers  found that the increased use of marijuana during adolescence wasn’t necessarily associated with reduced physical activity or exercise in adulthood. Furthermore, they found that increased use of cannabis as an adult isn’t necessarily associated with regular appetite loss either.

Comparing data between siblings showed that the frequent use of cannabis as a teen was associated with less exercise in adulthood.

However, the comparison of the pairs of monozygotic twins revealed that regular cannabis use in adulthood was associated with a lower resting heart rate, suggesting shared family factors could be responsible for the association between adolescent cannabis use and infrequent exercise in adulthood.

The researchers concluded that there was a minimal connection between using cannabis once a week and negative physical health outcomes for adults aged 25 to 35. They also noted that this didn’t apply to adolescents and adults who used cannabis more than once a week.

With dozens of states passing some form of cannabis legislation in the past decade, more people than ever are using marijuana for either medical or recreational purposes. According to recent research, regular cannabis use has a minimal effect on a user’s physical health. The study adds to the growing body of research on how marijuana affects pulmonary, cardiovascular and other biological functions. Since federal law has made it virtually impossible for researchers to study cannabis for the past few decades, most of the research on the effects of regular cannabis use is quite new. This recent study, whose findings were reported in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal, sought to investigate the effect of regular (once a week) cannabis use on physical health. The results indicated that the plant didn’t have detrimental effects. The research involved data from roughly 300 pairs of twins which was sourced from the University of Colorado Boulder’s “Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan Behavioural Development and Cognitive Aging” study. This is an ongoing study of cognitive aging in twins from infancy to adulthood to determine how different influences in childhood and adulthood affect cognitive functioning. The researchers specifically tracked factors that influence declines, maintenance or boosts in cognitive abilities. Jessica Megan Ross, the study’s lead researcher, and her team looked at how these factors affected dizygotic twins, who share 50% of their genes, and monozygotic twins, who share 100% of their genes. They also drew data from a larger study that has been assessing twins and siblings on a yearly basis from birth into early adulthood.

After analyzing the data, the researchers  found that the increased use of marijuana during adolescence wasn’t necessarily associated with reduced physical activity or exercise in adulthood. Furthermore, they found that increased use of cannabis as an adult isn’t necessarily associated with regular appetite loss either.

Comparing data between siblings showed that the frequent use of cannabis as a teen was associated with less exercise in adulthood.

However, the comparison of the pairs of monozygotic twins revealed that regular cannabis use in adulthood was associated with a lower resting heart rate, suggesting shared family factors could be responsible for the association between adolescent cannabis use and infrequent exercise in adulthood.

The researchers concluded that there was a minimal connection between using cannabis once a week and negative physical health outcomes for adults aged 25 to 35. They also noted that this didn’t apply to adolescents and adults who used cannabis more than once a week.

A top cannabis researcher is predicting that despite valid concerns surrounding inflation, sales on July 4th will generate a double-digit increase, likely racking up the highest number in sales for any day in the market this summer.

The reason for this surge? “Cannabis is a ‘sticky’ good and the market is resilient,” said Roy Bingham, co-founder and CEO of Colorado-based BDSA. “We predict that summer cannabis sales will remain steady, peaking around the 4th of July holiday.”

Also, with more people travelling and many social activities commencing after the COVID-19 restrictions of the last two years, the summer season’s festivities will be especially pronounced.

Branded Legacy, Inc. ( BLEG), a holding company focused on the commercial development of hemp and cannabinoid-infused beverages, along with an array of CBD topicals and tinctures is pleased to announce it has added two new stores to its growing list of retail locations.
Happy Cork, located in Brooklyn, NY has added the new TCH-0/Delta-8 gummies and Delta 8 Tinctures to their growing market. In addition, Transformative Acupuncture in Jacksonville, FL, will now be carrying Spikes CBDX products. They will offer all 4 of its gummies including the new THC-0/Delta-8 blend, Massage oils, moisturizers, Delta-8 / CBD tinctures, and its CryoGel. Products will be offered not only within the services of the business but also available for retail purchases.

With investors becoming more cautious and capital more expensive, only the strongest cannabis firms will survive a downturn in the global economy. 

Cannabis startups in Europe are facing a harder time raising capital amid recession fears and sinking stock markets, but that could ultimately help the industry. 

“This period will be really good for clearing out those who were just trying to make a quick buck,” said Alastair Moore, the founder of Hanway Associates, a research firm focused on marijuana. “That’s a good thing for the sector.”

Startups likely to survive include those that have already built strong, sustainable business models, according to Moore. That will help them keep winning over investors who are becoming more cautious, he said.

“The drug war has been a horrendous instrument of prejudice and punishment for racial minorities.”

Long-time talk show host and cannabis retail partner Bill Maher told his Real Time with Bill Maher audience last week that he gets why some people think those affected by the War on Drug should have first dibs on weed retail licences.

Maher made the comments during the “New Rule” segment on Friday, which focused on how key it is to have a lawyer who fights for client wants and needs.

To illustrate the value of such representation, he kicked off the segment with the Amber Heard-Johnny Depp defamation trial example before segueing into why he believes Democrats are losing ground to Republicans, including citing the flip of a Texas district from blue to red, the Latinx term and student loan relief.

During the segment, Maher, 66, noted that Bernie Sanders (at about 4:42 in clip below) promised during his 2020 run to become the Democratic nominee for president that he would legalize cannabis on his first day as president. Beyond that, the idea would be to have those who suffered most from the drug war be first up to receive retail licences.

“And you know what? I can’t argue with that instinct. The drug war has been a horrendous instrument of prejudice and punishment for racial minorities, so it seems fair that they jump the line for weed franchises the way Indians (Native Americans) did for casinos,” Maher told his studio audience.

In their latest report on the topic, the UN equates cocaine and heroin with cannabis use and creates boogeymen around every corner of the end of Prohibition.

The UN has just issued a report about cannabis that will no doubt in the near future look as alarmist as it is dated. Namely, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has issued its annual world drug report.

Here are the high level takeaways—which are hard to read with a straight face.

The most recent study to examine such issues, emanating from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) last year had to concede that they could not “establish that cannabis use caused the increased suicidality we observed in this study,” and that “these associations warrant further research.” The same study also noted that cannabis use by adults more than doubled in the United States between 2008 and 2019—precisely the years that normalization became a multi-state campaign politically.

It is also worth noting that one of the most recent studies about cannabis and PTSD, which includes episodes of depression leading to suicide, found that cannabis use dramatically decreased PTSD symptoms to the point that many patients no longer met the diagnostic criteria for the condition.

Veterans are perhaps the population most at risk for suicide, even in the best of times. According to most national estimates, there are 22 veteran suicides a day in the U.S. Deployed veterans serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan had a suicide risk 41% higher than the average population. Even more intriguingly, non-deployed veterans had a 61% greater risk of committing suicide than the average person.

A new article claims higher levels of THC are affecting the health of teens.

Marijuana products can have THC levels of up to 100%. This is a relatively new development, with marijuana growers and handlers learning how to cultivate stronger products in recent years. According to The New York Times, these high levels of THC are affecting teens, increasing their odds of dependency and even resulting in conditions like cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

The article interviews several experts, teens and their parents and paints a picture of some of the marijuana products that are in circulation today, claiming that these are stronger than in years past and that they can affect consumers in adverse ways.

Elysse, one of the teenagers interviewed, shared that marijuana made her feel euphoric and happy. The oils and waxes she purchased had THC levels of up to 90%, which she consumed several times a day. After a few months of regular use, her positive highs morphed into sad and anxiety-inducing experiences, including one instance where she vomited more than 20 times within the span of two hours. She was diagnosed with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a rare side effect of cannabis.

While there’s a lot we don’t know about marijuana, it’s clear that the drug has great medicinal capabilities. In terms of its side effects, they’re not wholly understood but cannabis has been linked with conditions like cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, cannabis addiction, mental health conditions, and more. These issues are more concerning in the case of teens, with the overuse of the drug affecting their brains in ways that may impact them for the rest of their lives.

More and more states are legalizing cannabis, but since the drug remains illegal on a federal level every state moves at its own pace. Currently, recreational marijuana is legal in 19 states, Washington DC and Guam. Only Vermont and Connecticut have caps on THC concentrations.

It helps with arthritis and overall inflammation.

Once you hit 40 years of age and over, your body can throw all kinds of curveballs at you. Some individuals already have or may start to develop health ailments at this stage of life, including chronic back pain, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and more. A healthcare professional will address your particular situation and decide the best course of treatment for you. But did you know there are also surprising side effects of taking CBDA after 40?

Let's start at the beginning. CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) can be found in hemp plants and it's a cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are compounds that make up the active ingredients of marijuana. The plant contains many of them, and they can affect the body in plenty of ways, including providing pain relief, helping with depression, decreasing nausea, and more.

We spoke with Inesa Ponomariovaite, a CBDA expert and CEO of Nesa's Hemp, who addresses how taking this cannabinoid is an extraordinary addition to your routine as you age, so read on to learn more about the surprising side effects of CBDA. And next up, don't miss The 6 Best Exercises for Strong and Toned Arms in 2022, Trainer Says.

Nesa's Hemp

According to Ponomariovaite, Nesa's Hemp is a key player when it comes to CBDA hemp oil. She explains to Eat This, Not That!, "There are so many people searching for holistic remedies to heal and ease suffering from cancer and other pathogens—Nesa's Hemp was created for this reason—to heal the world and restore happiness. I created what the industry was missing—the first living CBDA biological product on the market. That is certified beyond any organic levels. The safest, cleanest, and most effective product."

It's easy to get hemp CBDA products mixed up with marijuana products. Note that they differ greatly, and Ponomariovaite lets us in on their differences and legality. "Marijuana products contain mostly THC which is the compound that makes you high. Unlike THC, CBDA actually suppresses THC and works in different ways and doesn't make you high," she says.

The popular edibles brand introduces an innovative alcohol alternative through their “Summer of Quick” campaign.

Summer is in full swing, and Michiganders are celebrating with lakeside parties, backyard barbecues… and the inevitable hangovers that follow. But one cannabis company is offering consumers a new, hangover-proof way to enhance their sunny celebrations: fast-acting, THC-infused gummies.