WeedLife News Network

Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

A few weeks ago, Carol Bartz, former CEO of Autodesk and Yahoo, was all over the news after seed-to-sale cannabis company Caliva announced she was part of a group that had invested $75 million into the company, alongside NFL legend Joe Montana – found here talking about cannabis and football.

Surprisingly, the 70-year-old tech industry superstar, was very open about her cannabis use, disclosing her predilection not only for the super trendy, non-psychoactive CBD, but also for THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis that makes people feel “high.”

The high cost of Biogen’s newly approved and controversial treatment will be compounded by a misguided Medicare policy that incentivizes doctors to prescribe the priciest medicines.

Disclaimer:This article was originally published on The Fresh Toast. The views expressed in this article solely belong to the author.

It is easy to understand why everyone is desperate for anything that will help with Alzheimer’s Disease. Patients and their families dread its relentless onslaught. Consequently, there was tremendous pressure for the FDA to approve Aduhelm (aducanumab), by Biogen and Eisai.

However, its approval was met with widespread criticism because it is both expensive, with an expected annual price tag of $56,000, but of limited effectiveness.

Aducanumab is taken as an infusion administered in a doctor’s office for one hour every four weeks. That might be difficult for a patients suffering from agitation who might not understand why they are there.

The high cost of Biogen’s newly approved and controversial treatment will be compounded by a misguided Medicare policy that incentivizes doctors to prescribe the priciest medicines.

With the growing acceptance of the legal cannabis industry across the United States, more states are diving deeper into regulatory questions. The latest push around legislatures has been THC Caps, which would limit the potency of THC in various products depending on the state's guidelines.

Lawmakers believe that limiting the strength of marijuana will be in the interest of public safety, which seems like a commonsense argument. However, when one looks at how manipulating the potency of THC would impact our bodies and society, it's clear that they are not the answer to responsible legislating of the cannabis industry.

At the Blinc Group, we wrote a white paper, "Six Reasons that THC Caps Are a Bad Idea," examining the implications of THC Caps on the vaping industry. It demonstrates, backed by existing research that THC Caps will endanger the public, lead to dangerous products entering the market, and keep necessary medicines out of patients' hands.

It also would require manufacturers to dilute their concentrates with additives to meet the lower standards. While regulations are up in the air from state to state, the unsafe additives will pose a greater health risk to consumers, possibly resulting in an uptick in EVALI cases.

The Colorado Cannabis Manufacturers Association (CCMA) agrees that THC Caps are not in the industry or consumers' best interests.

If you are wanting to cash in on New Mexico's green rush, it is not too late.

Linda Trujillo is the superintendent of the New Mexico Licensing and Regulation Department. She said those who want to grow cannabis should be able to get their provisional license by Aug. 22.

“The provisional license does not let you start functioning or operating as a cannabis business, but it does at least give you that assurance so that you can then go on and get the things that you must pay for and your local stuff and then come back to us and show us that you have got it and then get licensed to start operating,” said Trujillo.

Those wanting to sell will have to wait a little longer to get their provisional license.

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox expects cannabis will be a part of the new North American free-trade deal following the country's Supreme Court decision to loosen some of the rules on how the drug can be consumed.

 "Cannabis has to be part of the trading between United States, Canada and Mexico," Fox said in a broadcast interview.  "Canada is an open market for cannabis, so, too is Mexico today. For the moment today for medical use, in September for recreational use."

Fox's comments come after Mexico's Supreme Court ruled to strip prohibitions against consuming marijuana last month despite lawmakers failing to formally pass legislation to establish the rules behind a recreational market. The court also ruled that it will now allow anyone who wants a permit for recreational cannabis to receive one. 

The ruling doesn’t decriminalize the sale of cannabis or its use without a permit. Mexico legalized medical cannabis in 2017 and regulations on how the country will manage its recreational marketplace are expected to be announced later this year. 

"The Supreme Court finally corrected the law in order to proceed with the opening of the market," Fox said. "Congress was resistant but the Supreme Court made the final decision."

Walking into a grocery store, do you question whether or not the meat at the deli is safe to eat or if the frozen meals were prepared in a clean environment? Chances are, you've probably never thought twice about it. But when stepping into a medical or recreational cannabis dispensary, you may be less confident about the safety of the products on the shelves.

Herein lies the difference between an established, well-regulated industry (food) and a brand new emerging industry with no federal regulation or guidance (cannabis).

Most consumers assume that products sold on grocery store shelves are safe. For good reason—the current regulations enforced by the FDA or the USDA on the food industry ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of the products you purchase.

As the cannabis industry inches towards federal legalization, it would be wise for product manufacturers to implement the same rules followed by the food, dietary supplement, and drug industries. Here's what they are.  

GMP and cGMP

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) outline the conditions and practices the industry should follow for processing safe products under sanitary conditions, including personnel, plant and grounds, sanitary operations, sanitary facilities and controls, equipment and utensils, processes, and controls, warehousing, and distribution, and defect action levels considerations. 

Scientists in New Zealand are planning to run a Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) micro-dosing trial with late-stage cancer patients to see if the drug improves their quality of life.

Dr. Lisa Reynolds, the Director of the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Psychology at the University of Auckland, will lead the trial.

“The research I’ve seen so far suggests that psychedelics such as LSD might have the potential to improve quality of life, reduce fear of death, reduce anxiety and depression, increase spirituality,” Dr. Reynolds told Radio New Zealand. “There’s a whole lot of early-stage findings that are pretty compelling.”

The University first announced the trial in May. The study seeks to understand if micro-dosing LSD holds similar benefits to large doses, which have shown to significantly reduce psychological distress in advanced patients, but can also lead to ‘bad trips.’

The micro-doses will not lead to altered perceptions and may hold similar benefits in reducing anxiety, depression and existential distress.

The University of Florida has brought its two-year Industrial Hemp Pilot Project for a landing with guidance that the crop might be a viable commodity for Florida growers in the future, with caution for economic and environmental challenges.

The UF/IFAS-led pilot project began in spring 2019 after federal and state legislation established an industrial hemp pilot program with research and education priorities that support hemp cultivation.

“From our research, including the on-farm trials with growers around the state, we have found that hemp can grow in Florida, but there is more work to be done on the way to a viable crop,” says Zachary Brym, UF/IFAS agronomy Assistant Professor and hemp pilot project lead scientist. “There are a variety of environmental and management factors that influence hemp productivity that we need to spend more time understanding. We’ll keep up that work as long as there is support to do so.”

According to UF/IFAS, key observations from the pilot project include:

Hemp research and education efforts continue beyond the end of the two-year pilot program. This includes the online hemp research workshop and the newly established cultivar approval program that provides science-based evaluation of industrial hemp varieties. The approval program is led by Brian Pearson, Assistant Professor of crop management at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in partnership with Roseville Farms.

Delta-8 THC is a popular cannabis product which offers slightly different benefits from its half brother delta-9. Though delta-8 is a product of delta-9 in nature, it’s also quite possible to source delta-8 THC from CBD. Read on to find out how its done.

Let’s be honest, you’re probably not going to set up a science experiment to make delta-8 THC at home from CBD. And that’s okay. Unless you’ve got a chemistry degree, or some incredible natural know-how, it’s just not a beginner’s activity. On the bright side, you don’t need to! Plenty of delta-8 products abound, as well as even newer offerings like THCV, delta-10, and THC-O-Acetate. We’ve got a bunch of great delta-8 THC deals, and way, way more. So take a look at our constantly expanding catalogue, and buy your finished product without worrying about a chemistry set.

First off, what is delta-8 THC?

Delta-8 THC is growing in popularity, but what it is, isn’t always understood. Delta-8 is an isomer of delta-9, meaning it shares the exact same chemical formula of: C₂₁H₃₀O₂, but with a different configuration of atoms. Delta-8 and delta-9 (and all other delta-THCs) are stereoisomers of each other, meaning they differ on nothing more than the placement of a double bond. For delta-9, the standard THC associated with marijuana, it’s on the 9th carbon atom in a chain, for delta-8, its on the 8th.

Delta-8 is a naturally occurring cannabinoid, which is produced in nature through the oxidation of delta-9 THC. When delta-9 comes into contact with oxygen, it loses electrons, thus creating delta-8, a more stable compound with a longer shelf life, since further oxidation is not an issue. Delta-8 only transforms from delta-9 at extremely low rates, meaning what occurs naturally is not in a high enough volume for any kind of product. In order for enough for actual use, it requires synthetization by humans, which we’ll get to soon.

The two isomers, delta-8 and delta-9, share many of the same medicinal characteristics, but differ in a few important ways, which can greatly affect both user experience, and user preference. Delta-9, for starters, is known to cause anxiety in many users. Delta-8 does not, meaning it’s a better treatment for anxiety, as well as not as likely an agent to produce it, in those not attempting to treat it. Delta-9 is also known for an intense high, cloudy head, and couch locking – when a person is so stoned they literally feel like they can’t move off the couch.

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is poised to open the first adult-use cannabis shop in New York State, beating out the non-tribal retailers by up to a year…or more.

The tribe, located in northern New York along the U.S.-Canada border, adopted its own ordinance regarding legal marijuana last month, following New York state’s April 1 legalization.

How and why

Their ordinance went further than the state’s law, created under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), by setting up rules for growing and processing cannabis, licensing retail shops and declaring that everything, from seed to sale, must take place on tribal territory.

The plan includes licensing tribal entrepreneurs, rather than running the businesses themselves. The tribal council has already received more than a dozen applications to be reviewed and issued by a tribal cannabis control board, reported Syracuse.com.

“We want to ensure that our community is prepared to utilize this opportunity to support our local entrepreneurs’ efforts to help diversify our local economy and support community programs and services through tribal licensing fees,” the St. Regis tribe said in a statement.

Although states with legal recreational marijuana programs have been notably careful to ensure product safety, as with any industry, mistakes happen. 

This time, the state of Michigan recently recalled 10,000 cannabis-infused chocolate edibles dubbed Covert Cups, having discovered the products had not undergone adequate inspection after being manufactured in Bay City, reported MLive. 

Sha’Carri Richardson’s disqualification provides an excellent opportunity for sports organizations to evaluate their marijuana policies.

On June 28, U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson was suspended for one month by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for using cannabis, effectively disqualifying her from competing in the Olympics. The suspension of a gold medal contending athlete caught many by surprise and sparked a worldwide debate about marijuana use by athletes should be addressed. Many in the sports world quickly rushed to her defense, including Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, who called the suspension “ridiculous.”

WADA has three criteria for a drug to qualify for its prohibited substances list: (1) it represents an actual or potential health risk to the athlete; (2) it has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance; and (3) it violates the spirit of sport.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

According to a 2011 paper written by WADA scientists, marijuana satisfies all three of the criteria. First, “athletes who smoke cannabis or Spice in-competition potentially endanger themselves and others because of increased risk taking, slower reaction times and poor executive function or decision making.” Second, “based on current animal and human studies as well as on interviews with athletes and information from the field, cannabis can be performance enhancing for some athletes and sports disciplines.” Third, “use of illicit drugs that are harmful to health and that may have performance-enhancing properties is not consistent with the athlete as a role model for young people around the world.”

The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented and worrisome impact on all businesses and sectors across the world. The cannabis and liquor businesses were not spared, and it is expected to think about the state of these businesses post-COVID-19. 

Interestingly, one of the focal points to consider is the priority people will place on both substances. Will cannabis be more prominent in use than liquor, or will it be vice versa? How will cannabis businesses fare over the liquor business? Let’s find out!

The California factor

One week after the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, the state of California announced a statewide business lockdown. The state of Illinois also followed through with the same directive after California. 

Both states designated marijuana businesses and operators as “Essential services” with supermarkets, pharmacies, and liquor stores. These businesses were allowed to be opened while other businesses shut down. 

Other states quickly followed the California and Illinois lead by declaring marijuana operates as an important business. This move enabled a rush for such essential designations in the early weeks of the pandemic. This rush for marijuana was a progressive moment in the marijuana industry which also led to the creation of new legal state marijuana markets. 

Though public opinion has increasingly favored decriminalization of marijuana use in the last two decades, the process has been complicated by the public’s differing opinions on how marijuana should be decriminalized and for what reasons. While on a national level, marijuana distribution for any use is illegal under the Controlled Substances Act, 36 U.S. states have passed measures allowing for medicinal use, while 18 states have permitted recreational use as of June 22. A 2018 poll found that 56% of adults surveyed favored the state regulation of marijuana over federal regulation, highlighting that some wish for states to be given autonomy over decisions regarding decriminalization.

However, every state that decriminalizes marijuana for any reason sustains an “uneasy relationship” with the federal government. The federal government is unable and partly unwilling to enforce marijuana criminalization in all 36 states in which it is legal, but businesses wishing to sell marijuana encounter problems with federal tax laws, banking, and the threat of arrest if the federal government decides to crackdown. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently criticized the federal government’s approach to marijuana, saying it “simultaneously tolerates and forbids local use of marijuana” after a Colorado business appealed a ruling prohibiting the business from deducting business expenses from its federal taxes.

With public opinion in support of decriminalization, the complexity of the federal government’s relationship with marijuana may be too difficult to preserve. On June 14, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act that would legalize marijuana nationally, but passage faces challenges in both parties along with President Biden more supportive of decriminalization than legalization.

Public opinion research increasingly finds support for legalization in some form, with a 2021 Pew Research Center survey finding that 90% of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized for medical use, and 60% favored legalization for both recreational and medical use. In contrast, only 12% supported legalization in 1969 and 31% in 1999. Medical use remains the primary reason listed for legalization according to a 2019 Gallup poll and this focus may explain the challenges to full decriminalization. Likewise, a 2018 study suggests the media focus on medical use may explain why around 30% of Americans surveyed support legalization for medicinal but not recreational use. Meanwhile, few studies directly ask whether legalization should be left up to the states.

To assess public opinion of decriminalizing marijuana, we conducted a national online survey of 625 Americans, using quota sampling and administered through Qualtrics on June 22-24. Participants were asked “Which of the following best matches your opinion regarding marijuana?” and could choose one of four answers:

Eustis, Florida — 21 years oldst-Century greenhouse, for ancient crops. In the case of Glen Treadwell Treadwell farm, The crop is hemp.

“I like the idea that it can be done all year round,” he said. “It’s a plant that catches you.”

His family has been farming in Florida for over a century, but recently hemp has been added.

“It’s one of the hardest plants to grow,” he said. “You need to have the right process, and that’s what we had to learn, people taught us, and we treat it to others I’m trying to teach you the right way. “

Jamie Treadwell is Glenn’s daughter and a member of the next generation of treadwell farmers.

Arizona residents with low-level marijuana convictions can have their records wiped clean under a state expungement program launched this week. The expungements for minor cannabis convictions are being issued in accordance with Proposition 207, the 2020 ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for adults that was passed by 60 percent of the state’s voters.

Julie Gunnigle, the political director for the Arizona chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said that Tuesday, the first day to apply for an expungement, is a historic day for the state.

“Today is a day that will go down in Arizona history because Arizona does not have expungements or didn’t, until this morning at 12:01 a.m.,” said Gunnigle, adding “An expungement is a true clearing of someone’s criminal history and record, and Arizona continues to be one of the most incarcerated states in the nation.”

Under the program, those with convictions for possessing, transporting or consuming 2.5 ounces or less of marijuana, of which no more than 12.5 grams can be a cannabis concentrate or extract, are eligible to have their records expunged. Those with convictions for possessing, cultivating, processing or transporting up to six cannabis plants at their primary residence can also apply. Expungements can also be issued for convictions for possessing, using or transporting paraphernalia related to the consumption, cultivation and processing of marijuana.

Those eligible for expungement are required to petition the courts to have their records cleared. Help is also available from several organizations including the cannabis advocacy group Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM), which has been offering expungement clinics through its Project Clean Slate initiative.

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Big changes could be coming to a South Carolina industry that’s still in its infancy.

Hemp farmers are excited about what the possibility of making marijuana legal could mean for both businesses and consumers.

The hemp industry got its start in South Carolina back in 2017. Only a few years off the ground, it now could have the potential to expand after former congressman Joe Cunningham announced his plans to legalize to use of marijuana if elected governor in 2022.

Cody Callarman, owner and founder of Zitro Farms, is a veteran who has seen the affects hemp can have on physical and mental trauma.

A syndrome that appears to affect some regular users of cannabis is making headlines again  – “scromiting”. So, what is it?

The USA’s NBC news is reporting the case of a young man who presented to hospital 11 times for the same issue: severe vomiting that lasted for hours accompanied by screaming. The teen was a cannabis user.

Scenarios such as this among heavy cannabis users are apparently becoming increasingly common and the condition has a name – Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, or CHS. It shares many clinical similarities with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). But more recently it has gained a new name – “scromiting”; which is a portmanteau of screaming and vomiting.

Since we first reported on it back in 2017, aside from the screaming aspect there doesn’t appear to be a lot of new information – but there have been a couple of deaths attributed to CHS. Relief from the condition may be gained by hot baths or showers, but it appears the only “cure” is cessation of cannabis use. Recovery is usually within 2 weeks of stopping use and if the patient takes it up again, symptoms often return.

This is not a new syndrome – there are references to it going back as far as 2004. But what has changed a lot since then is marijuana becoming increasingly potent and accessible for both medicinal and recreational purposes – particularly in the USA.

Effective today, recreational marijuana is legal for personal use in Connecticut. Your employees might think that this means they have free reign to use marijuana in the workplace. They would be wrong. In fact, the new law provides employers with significant authority to prohibit marijuana use in the workplace and punish marijuana use outside of the workplace. The new law also imposes additional restrictions on smoking and vaping (both tobacco and cannabis) at work.

Adding to the confusion that employers and employees alike will have to sort out is the fact that the effective date of the law regarding workplace regulation of cannabis is not until July 1, 2022. That means employers, for now, can follow the pre-legalization rules. For example, prior to July 1, 2022, employers can prohibit any cannabis use by employees (unless for certified medical reasons) and can test for it as well. As outlined below, some slightly different rules will apply after July 1, 2022, although the practical effect is that employers will still have the ability to regulate recreational use of cannabis. That said, the rules regulating smoking in the workplace go into effect on October 1, 2021, so employers should not put off reviewing their policies and procedures now.

This post will explain the rules that go into effect, and what you can do now to maintain the integrity of your workplace now.

Cannabis Use And The Workplace

First off, the law creates two sets of rules depending on whether the employer or a particular job/position in question is considered "exempt" from regulation. "Exempt Employers" include those whose primary activity is mining, utilities, construction, manufacturing, transportation or delivery, educational services (schools), healthcare or social services, justice, public order and safety activities, national security and international affairs. All positions at Exempt Employers are excluded from coverage. "Exempt Positions" include firefighters, EMTs, police officers, DOC employees in direct contact with inmates, those requiring operation of a motor vehicle for which federal or state law requires screening tests, and positions that require a CDL, to name a few.

Effective July 1, 2022:

Governor Polis is being faced with a lawsuit over House Bill 1317, a bill that negatively affected students who were meant to benefit from the law that allows cannabis use by medical patients in public schools. 

Benjamin Wann, a cannabis patient, and his parents, Amber and Brad, supported Polis back in May when he signed the law that expanded access to cannabis in schools. This is something they had been fighting for over the past few years, and they were happy to see it become a reality. 

However, when a bill that restricted the medical program was introduced just a few days later, Governor Polis allegedly stopped communicating with the family and other advocates about their wants and needs. 

“Polis didn’t have a conversation with us. We reached out, and had a rally in front of his office after it passed. I don’t know of anyone in the community who he had a conversation with, especially those of us who just passed that other bill,” Brad said to Westword.

“We’ve seen a roller-coaster effect over the years with Benjamin having seizures. People keep saying [marijuana] is so bad for the developing brain, and here’s Benjamin, and we’ve literally seen him flourish and grow from it,” Amber added.