WeedLife News Network

Trulieve, a cannabis company that operates across 11 U.S. states, has completed the acquisition of Arizona-based Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. The US$2.1 billion deal was first announced in May. Trulieve is now the largest and most profitable cannabis operation in the U.S., according to the company’s announcement.

Marijuana enforcement officials, city council members, and citizens all came together to discuss marijuana sales in the city, the timeline, and the economic impact at the 5th annual Western Colorado Economic Summit at the Grand Junction Convention Center on Thursday. City Council member, Abe Herman says, “Things we’ve come to consensus on is the cap of the number stores which is ten stores throughout the city. We have agreement from council on that, and the other item is the selection process for those ten stores which is a weighted lottery.”

Herman is pushing for store owners to give back to the community through non-profits and other ventures instead of just chasing profits. “Rather than it being pure chance, it will be weighted towards operators we feel are going to meet the goals and the vision we have for the community,” said Herman.

Also discussed were buffer zones of 1,000 feet from schools, 500 feet from parks, and rehabilitation facilities, but it could all change. Herman says, “Nothing is concrete at this point cause we haven’t adopted regulations yet.”

The marijuana city sales power point presentation may be done, but the city council policy discussions continue including a special tax rate of 6% with a total rate of over 26%. Community Development Director Tamra Allen says, “15% sales tax for marijuana, and that goes to the state. We get 10% of that back or 1.5%.”

Most decisions can change, but what won’t change is where the revenue is going. “For administration enforcement related to marijuana in the city is one. And, the second one is to the highest priorities of the recently adopted parks recreation open space master plan,” said Director Allen.

Problems with sleep are common. In recent research, 48 per cent of UK adults said sleeping badly had a negative effect on their mental health. For teenagers, this proportion was significantly higher — 66 per cent.The large number of people experiencing sleep problems makes for an attractive market. Some companies have seized the opportunity to provide remedies, including several manufacturers of cannabis products.

Changes to the way cannabis is regulated in many countries, including the UK, have helped the boom in cannabis products, with more people able to access these types of offerings — even if the cannabis compounds that can be used in sleep products in some countries are more limited than in others. In the U.S., where cannabis is fully legal in many states, California-based Ganja Goddess reported more than a sevenfold increase in revenue for its cannabis sleep products during the first year of the COVID pandemic.

Cannabis and sleep

Sleep disturbance is a common feature of withdrawal from cannabis use, indicating there may well be a relationship between cannabis use and sleep. But we still don’t have a clear understanding of the mechanisms in the brain involved in this relationship.

The effects of cannabis are due to a group of chemicals in the drug called cannabinoids. These include cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the psychoactive substance in cannabis. CBN and CBD don’t cause you to get high in the same way.

In the UK, CBD products are available legally, providing they don’t contain more than 0.2 per cent THC. Retailers and suppliers make all kinds of assertions about the benefits of CBD products, including how CBD can improve sleep. There is some evidence to support these claims, but this is mainly based on animal and human observational studies rather than randomised control trials, where comparisons can be made between CBD and a placebo.

Marijuana is now legal in New York, but that doesn’t mean you can smoke it everywhere. Here’s a look at some of the rules on where you can and can’t smoke in the state. Generally, anywhere you’re not allowed to smoke a cigarette, you’re also not allowed to smoke a joint.That includes a host of places where smoking is banned under New York’s Clean Indoor Air Act:

But there’s more. Numerous cities and counties across the state have banned smoking in public parks and other locations.

With cannabis legislation flying about and American citizens being drawn into the appeal of marijuana, discussions have moved on to issues concerning cannabis-induced anxiety. Concerned communities are wondering if marijuana causes or helps to manage anxiety. And experts have explained that it works both ways.Marijuana-induced anxiety is often experienced by both long-term and new cannabis users. The type of cannabis being consumed does not matter, as both recreational and medical cannabis have been found to trigger the condition.

This article delves into the causes of weed anxiety, methods to combat its occurrence, as well as how to prevent it from occurring in new cannabis users.

Cannabis and Anxiety

These two have an intriguing connection. Researchers have carried out trials to explain this relationship. Some studies have involved the use of cannabis and its compounds to develop a potential form of anxiety treatment, while other studies have focused on looking for ways to develop and improve cannabinoid-based anxiolytic agents.

Weed Anxiety

For you to understand weed anxiety, you have to know the concept of anxiety itself. Anxiety induces a bunch of reactions like increased heartbeats, inability to focus, incessant worries, and sweating. It occurs in moments that cause an individual to relieve their doubts and insecurities.

Unlike brief anxiety moments that can be brushed off by composing yourself with breathing exercises, weed-induced anxiety is much more complicated.

Illinois Women in Cannabis to Host a Breast Cancer and Cannabis Conversation; Virtual Forum Contributes to October’s Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month  Free Oct. 6 Webinar Features Midwest Cancer & Cannabis Clinicians and Patients, and is sponsored by NuEra Cannabis, in honor of its “Pre-Rolls for a Cause” Campaign

Illinois Women in Cannabis (IWC), the state’s leading cannabis industry networking organization, will host a virtual breast cancer and cannabis conversation in honor of October’s annual breast cancer awareness month. 

“Breast Cancer and Cannabis: Considerations. Cautions. And Case Studies” will be a live webinar held Wednesday, October 6, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.. The free forum will feature a panel of multi-state Midwest women experienced with both breast cancer and cannabis, including leading Missouri cannabis patient advocates and product formulation experts. Breast cancer patients who are registered medical marijuana patients in their respective states, and receive guidance from one of the panel presenters will also join the conversation, sharing their valued perspectives and experiences. 

nuEra Cannabis, the Illinois owned and operated vertically integrated cannabis company, is sponsoring the educational event to complement nuEra’s “Pre-Rolls for a Cause” product and retail promotion. nuEra’s campaign commemorates breast cancer awareness month; it will donate proceeds from the promotion to Illinois cancer charities. Learn how you can support its initiative: nuEra Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser. 

“Illinois Women in Cannabis values being able to organize and host important conversations like this upcoming breast cancer awareness forum,” said the Executive Director of Illinois Women in Cannabis, Amor Montes de Oca. “IWC was founded the year Illinois approved medical use, so we’ve grown and evolved in tandem with the state’s cannabis program. Over these past seven years we’ve been able to expand our educational offerings, advocacy initiatives and community partnerships thanks to having active members and loyal support from cannabis businesses, like nuEra. This upcoming webinar reflects the important work IWC is able to do, thanks to its members and corporate sponsors,” Amor said. 

Potency has increasingly become the name of the game in the world of cannabis as THC concentrations are reaching ever greater heights. If you're looking to find the strongest cannabis around, we're here to help. Just remember, these strains do not mess around. Exercising caution when consuming them would be wise even for experienced users with high tolerances.

WEDDING PIE

An indica-dominant hybrid that packs a punch with THC content reaching up to 26 percent, Wedding Pie is a great late-night "snack" just before bedtime. This relatively new strain is a cross between two other indica-dominant hybrids, Grape Pie and the extremely popular Wedding Cake — Wedding Cake was named strain of the year in 2019 by industry website Leafly. Caryophyllene and myrcene are the dominant terpenes, giving this pie a unique peppery flavor.

There are a few Wedding Pie options available in the region, but Longview-based producer Mama J's takes the top spot when it comes to THC. Their flower clocks in at 25.7 percent, making it a decent starting point if you don't want to jump straight into the high THC deep end. Find it at Royal's Cannabis and Sativa Sisters.

SCARLET QUEEN

Grown on the rolling hills of the Palouse, Burnwell's Scarlet Queen, simply called Scarlett, is one of the strongest flower options on the market. This sativa-dominant hybrid is a cross of two other queens, killer and space. Scarlett inherited the sticky buds its parents are known for but significantly upped their punch, landing at 30.6 percent THC. It also took on the myrcene levels of its parents, giving it a traditionally herbal flavor.

Don't let the smooth, subdued packaging fool you; this is without question an in-your-face strain. Find it at Cannabis & Glass, Spokane Green Leaf and Cinder.

Illegal activity within the medical marijuana industry was among the topics discussed at the recent interim study hearing at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

"This is very near and dear to my heart in Northwest Oklahoma," District Attorney Chris Boring shared. "It's bad. I hope that you guys can find some solutions and help us deal with this problem."

Lori Carter, deputy attorney general for public policy, presented information regarding the prosecution of illegal activities within the medical marijuana industry.

According to Carter, crimes accompanying the now legal marijuana industry include fentanyl trafficking, human trafficking and prostitution, as well as other crimes.

"We are focusing on those as well as trying to keep everything else within the law," Carter said. "Our second role really is advising on policy."

Emerald Valley Gardens, a small cannabis gardening shop near Springfield, is bustling with customers. At the register, owner Madeline Thomas answers questions about where to find the right pots or which brands to buy for first-time growers. Shelves are lined with nutrients and soil, and draped with leafy trailing plants. 

Thomas has been in the cannabis industry for more than 10 years, and says she loves the business. Over the course of the past two years, she says, her clientele skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic because people had more time on their hands. 

“It’s been so cool,” she says. “We’ve seen people who haven’t ever grown a cannabis plant or ever had a vegetable garden come in here, which is great. They’re our favorite customers because they’re super enthusiastic.” 

According to the medical journal Journal of Addictive Diseases, medicinal cannabis use increased by 91 percent since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Some cannabis users in Eugene have taken to self-growing while stuck at home, which is a more environmentally friendly alternative to purchasing from a large-scale dispensary.

Cannabis consumes a lot of water and energy. Thomas says lighting is one of the most important elements when growing cannabis because the goal is to replicate an outdoor environment in a controlled grow room. Indoor marijuana growth needs complex high-powered lighting systems that require an abundance of energy for use — annually equating to 300 million running vehicles, a total of 1 percent of national energy consumption in the U.S. 

Okay, we know that NASA's international space station and other such spacecraft can pick up a heck of a lot of what's happening here on the third planet from the sun, but an indoor cannabis farm? 

Last week, authorities in Nevada, along with an impressive backup of national law enforcers, raided what they called the largest illegal marijuana grow in Douglas County history, and perhaps one of the largest ever to be discovered in the state, which legalized adult-use cannabis in 2017.

With 80 workers, the cannabis farm was also the largest employer in the area, rivaling several smaller firms in Douglas County, which is located some 20 miles south of Nevada’s state capital Carson City and borders Lake Tahoe.

The numbers associated with the 160-greenhouse pot grow on 22 acres of land were "staggering," reported the Record-Courier.

What did authorities do with 62 tons of weed? 

They buried it, "…hopefully deep enough to discourage anyone else from trying to dig it up," according to the newspaper. 

A total of $1.5 million in state funding will be coming to three North Coast counties to fight what officials are calling the "worst of the worst" illegal cannabis grows. North Coast Sen. Mike McGuire; alongside Mendocino County Supervisor John Haschak and the sheriffs of Trinity, Mendocino, and Humboldt Counties; announced Wednesday that the funding is meant to support enforcement of laws surrounding unpermitted cannabis farms.

McGuire said Wednesday that the Humboldt and Mendocino County Sheriff's Offices will each receive $600-thousand and the Trinity County Sheriff's Office will receive $300-thousand. The funding is supposed to help staff the departments target the sites generating serious environmental and violent crimes.

Humboldt Sheriff William Honsal said during a virtual press conference with reporters that decades ago, illegal marijuana farms were small in nature, but now organized crime operations have taken hold and are abusing the environment.

"We have significant organized crime, drug cartels, and drug trafficking organizations that have really come in to take advantage of this market," Honsal said. "Now they're buying private land all over the county and they don't care about our county, they care about one thing and that's making money. It's greed."

Honsal noted that his office has seen increased rates of human and labor trafficking on these sites in recent years, and that is why serious state funding is needed to combat these grow sites.

Marijuana may have been legalized in New York state earlier this year, but Johnson City residents may soon be restricted in where it’s legal to light up. 

The village is looking to pass an amendment to local law that would add cannabis to the list of substances restricted from spaces like public parks and other village-owned property. Tobacco smoking and vaping are already banned from those public spaces. 

“This adds cannabis to our list of things you can’t do in public parks and public property similar to the no-smoking rules we have now,” said Mayor Greg Deemie. “We’re just adding recreational marijuana to it. Right now cigarettes and vaping is already banned in the parks and certain other areas in the village. We’re just basically adding (cannabis) to the list of things you cannot do.” 

Johnson City's action will be the subject of a public hearing at the village’s Oct. 5 meeting before coming before the board for a vote. Deemie said the primary goal is to protect residents from secondhand smoke in Johnson City’s public parks.  

This isn’t the first time Johnson City has been at the forefront of local policy changes. Laura Kelly, Community Engagement Coordinator for Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga, said the village was among the first in Broome County to enact a tobacco-free parks policy. Kelly expects other municipalities in the region to follow the village’s lead once again when it comes to restricting cannabis use in public parks. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Tuesday requiring hospitals and other health care facilities to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana, Marijuana Moment reported.

The governor approved the legislation, also known as “Ryan’s Law,” sponsored by State Sen. Ben Hueso (D), who had been pushing for this measure for years.

The issue arose over whether medical facilities in legal marijuana states can legally allow certain patients to use medical cannabis without jeopardizing the facility’s federal funding.

Hueso recently asked the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to clarify the subject.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) responded in a letter to Hueso that there are no federal regulations that specifically address the issue and that the agency was not aware of any cases where funding had been pulled due to a hospital or long-term facility allowing patients to use medical marijuana.

The move will allow recreational marijuana stores to expand further than the current seven marijuana zones in the municipality. The largest in the state of Illinois, Chicago has allowed 18 adult-use cannabis retailers so far, among the 110 statewide.

While marijuana retailers are now able to open without special approval from Chicago regulators, the approved proposal is also set to banish retailers in the downtown zone where they aren’t meant to be operating.

Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD) investors like cannabis stocks. That seems clear considering that there are seven cannabis stocks on the trading platform's 100 most popular list.

Two of those stocks made the top 20 on the list. Sundial Growers (NASDAQ:SNDL) currently ranks No. 4, while Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB) holds the No. 16 spot. But Sundial and Aurora have been big losers in recent months. Sundial's shares have plunged 75% below the highs from early this year. Aurora stock has fallen 65% from its February peak.

Why are Aurora and Sundial still the most popular pot stocks on Robinhood? Here are a few likely explanations.

A federal grant will help fund a study on the medical cannabis program in Arkansas. 

Thanks to $1.3 million courtesy of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, researchers affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Arkansas Center for Health Improvement will conduct what is being described as “a first-of-its-kind population health analysis of the medical marijuana program, combining eligible consumers’ cannabis purchase information with insurance claims records and other data sources to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of cannabis on consumers’ medical care.”

The study, titled “Population-Based Analyses of Healthcare Utilization and Outcomes in Users of Medical Marijuana,” will “also examine the impact of COVID-19 on the Arkansas medical marijuana program, including changes in cardholder requests, product purchases, healthcare utilization and adverse events,” according to a press release from the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, which is “a nonpartisan, independent health policy center that serves as a catalyst for improving the health of all Arkansans through evidence-based research, public issue advocacy and collaborative program development.”

Additionally, the study will also “incorporate six Arkansas-based data sources, including the Arkansas Healthcare Transparency Initiative’s Arkansas All-Payer Claims Database (APCD), Arkansas Department of Health medical marijuana patient registry data, medical marijuana dispensary purchase data, vital records, emergency department records and Arkansas State Police motor vehicle crash data,” with all the data being “de-identified with linkages utilizing the unique capabilities of the Transparency Initiative.”

The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement said that by “examining data for Arkansans who have qualified for medicinal use, this research will help inform the potential role of cannabis in medical therapy.”

The crew behind Garden Valley, California-based burger spot, Red Rooster Burgers & Brew, had enough with teens smoking pot in the bathroom, among other things, leading to a ban of all unsupervised customers under the age of 18. “It is with GREAT sadness that we have made the decision to not permit underage kiddos in the restaurant without a parent or legal guardian for the following reasons…” Red Rooster Burgers & Brew posted on September 24. Red Rooster Burgers & Brew sells burgers, fries, shakes and ice cream sundaes, as well as alcoholic drinks such as beer or wine. The post continued, adding a list of dozens of complaints—the first one on the list being “marijuana being smoked in the bathroom.” The list included littered condoms, skateboarding, the use and sale of e-cigarettes, as well as coins, fries and candy being thrown at employees.

“For the last two years we have spoken to kiddos and voiced our concerns numerous times!” the post continued. “Then, we implemented rules so they could still feel like they had a place to go, feel safe, and hang with their friends. It’s very clear to us that the bad behavior is not going to end. If you have a kiddo that needs a safe place to be after school please reach out to us. It is not our intent to exile the youth in our community but to protect our property. Some of their actions are unlawful and we won’t allow it.”

In California, only adults ages 21 and older can legally purchase pot for recreational purposes. There is no age limit on medical cannabis use, however minors under age 18 need permission from their legal guardians to use medical cannabis. So that means that young adults ages 18-20 are allowed to visit state-licensed medical dispensaries, but not adult-use dispensaries.

Beyond the Burger: Teens and Pot

Sandwich chain Cheba Hut, makers of “Toasted” subs, took the exact opposite approach, marketing to young adults through sandwiches like “Thai Sticks” or “Kali Mist.” 

But most business owners don’t want a mess to clean up when teens take over. In August, Oregon-based Burgerville took an even more extreme measure and closed a franchise in Portland permanently, due to underage criminal activity.

The first results of a trial into using medical cannabis for pain relief that began in a hospital in central France in March are looking promising. 

Psychiatrist Dr Nicolas Authier, Chair of the Scientific Committee on Medical Cannabis, is in charge of the experiment being conducted at the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand. He had identified 20 patients as being suitable for participation.

One patient Mounir, 47, who suffered a stroke aged 21 and consequently struggled with painkiller addiction in trying to manage his neuropathic pain, told France 3: “I'm not yet completely relieved of the pain. There is some still, but it is nothing like what I felt before.”

The trial is part of a two-year nationwide experiment primarily designed to evaluate the best conditions of access to medical cannabis.

Dr Authier hopes that medical cannabis will then be legalised for patients whose suffering is poorly relieved by conventional treatments.