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Illinois Delays Cannabis Dispensary Licenses Intended For Minority Entrepreneurs

Budding weed entrepreneurs will have to wait at least another month to learn if they’ve won one of 75 coveted dispensary licenses from the state.

The licenses were supposed to be awarded May 1, but Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order at the end of April indefinitely suspending the decision, citing difficulties related to the coronavirus pandemic and glitches in processing the applications.

Originally, all 75 licenses were to be awarded at the same time, but now some applicants could be awarded a license next month while others will have to wait until at least early August.

Former state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, who oversees the state cannabis program, told the Cook County Cannabis Commission the delay is necessary to make sure licenses are issued correctly and to avoid lawsuits that may arise from applicants that lose out. Hutchinson acknowledged the delay hurts those waiting on the decision.

“My biggest worry is that any delay … makes it very hard for the people, who are the entire intent of this, to weather,” Hutchinson said.

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These 3 Marijuana Nonprofits Are Offering Real Responses To The Pandemic And Racial Injustice

In response to stay-at-home orders and nighttime police curfews, three marijuana nonprofits are finding creative ways to fulfill their missions. In an exclusive story with Green Entrepreneur, all have agreed to reveal their strategies for successfully managing the stresses of the pandemic and protests during these unprecedented times. 

#1 Last Prisoner Project (LPP)

Andrew and Steve DeAngelo founded the Last Prisoner Project alongside other industry leaders to help those imprisoned for cannabis-related charges. LPP’s mission is to “get every cannabis-charged prisoner out of prison,” says Andrew DeAngelo, longtime cannabis advocate and co-founder of Harborside Health Center

Freedom and rehabilitation

LPP advocates for and educates about marijuana incarceration, pushing to improve living conditions for prisoners and helping them reintegrate into society by supplying access to an apartment, job, and professional training courses.

Their service programs include pro bono legal services, including efforts to secure prisoners’ release and executive clemency to expunge their records. This is often a complex problem, requiring support from the governor or the federal level, according to DeAngelo.

Once prisoners are out of jail, LPP offers further guidance with re-entry programs where they can find help.

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Virgin Islands: After 8-Hours of Debate, Senate Still Undecided on Cannabis Bill

Senators spent Friday scrutinizing a 60-page piece of legislation proposed by Gov. Albert Bryan that would revise the Virgin Islands Cannabis Use Act, but after eight hours of debate the lawmakers were divided as to whether the measure was ready.

Meeting as the Committee of the Whole, the Senate discussed the bill that would expand the medical marijuana program approved by the Senate and signed into law by Bryan a year and a half ago. The new bill proposes amendments to the existing act to provide better regulation, and generate tax revenue that could alleviate the impending insolvency of the Government Employee Retirement System.

Sen. Kurt Vialet said when the original act was passed by the previous Legislature and signed into law, it was under the assumption that those who needed medical cannabis would be supplied access, but the cannabis board that had 12 months to come up with policies to regulate the industry failed to do so, asking for an extension in December. This has caused senators to feel pressure to not let the process drag on.

But some committee members have been skeptical of the enhanced bill since the governor first unveiled it in December. Friday’s hearing demonstrated at least some senators remain on the fence and certain testifiers who were proponents of the bill also showed hesitation.

Barbara LaRonde, president of the V.I. National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws testified, that the legislation should be examined for social inequities and specifically address the community hardest hit by the war on drugs.

Sens. Janelle Serauw, Donna Frett-Gregory and Kurt Vialet during Friday's meeting. (Photo by Barry Leerdam, Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands)

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4 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting A Marijuana Dispensary

To ensure you have the best experience during your first dispensary trip, make sure you understand this short list of things a person needs to know before visiting.  

People have a tendency to get a bit excited when the concept of legal weed comes alive in their state. Hey, we can’t say that we blame them. It’s not every day that a plant still considered as dangerous as heroin and LSD in the eyes of the federal government gets the green light to be sold in a retail environment similar to beer. It’s a big deal, we don’t care who you are, especially considering the checkered, eight-decades long history of cannabis prohibition in the United States.  

We’ve watched curious cannabis enthusiasts plot entire vacations around legal marijuana, traveling thousands of miles just to get in on the weed action that their home state may not be progressive enough to have. We’ve also seen some of these people get to a dispensary and be turned away or have bad experiences because they didn’t necessarily understand all of the rules associated with these places before making their journey. To keep that misfortune from happening to you, we have assembled a shortlist of 4 things a person needs to know before visiting a weed store.  

To ensure you have the best experience during your first dispensary trip, make sure you understand this short list of things a person needs to know before visiting.  

People have a tendency to get a bit excited when the concept of legal weed comes alive in their state. Hey, we can’t say that we blame them. It’s not every day that a plant still considered as dangerous as heroin and LSD in the eyes of the federal government gets the green light to be sold in a retail environment similar to beer. It’s a big deal, we don’t care who you are, especially considering the checkered, eight-decades long history of cannabis prohibition in the United States.  


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Medical marijuana growers face additional hurdle before planting in Missouri

The medical marijuana industry in Missouri continues to prepare to serve thousands of patients who say they need the product to relieve a variety of health issues.

But some business owners tell 41 Action News they were caught off guard by an additional hurdle imposed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which oversees the industry, before growers can put seeds in the ground.

After each of the 338 medical marijuana license holders is verified by the state, they have to go through an additional verification process.

"Once those 338 were were chosen by merit, then the department of health did a verification process where they go through the application with a license holders then they prove that everything they put on the application was accurate, correct and conforms to the department’s rules," MoCannTrade spokesman Jack Cardetti said.

But there's a final step, called a commencement inspection, before cultivators, manufacturers and dispensaries can start up "where they actually come on site, look at your facility, make sure it has all the security that you said it was going to have, make sure it has all the promises that were made in the application were followed through on," Cardetti said.

Only two of 60 cultivators have made it through that process so far near St. Louis.

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Medical marijuana growers face additional hurdle before planting in Missouri

The medical marijuana industry in Missouri continues to prepare to serve thousands of patients who say they need the product to relieve a variety of health issues.

But some business owners tell 41 Action News they were caught off guard by an additional hurdle imposed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which oversees the industry, before growers can put seeds in the ground.

After each of the 338 medical marijuana license holders is verified by the state, they have to go through an additional verification process.

"Once those 338 were were chosen by merit, then the department of health did a verification process where they go through the application with a license holders then they prove that everything they put on the application was accurate, correct and conforms to the department’s rules," MoCannTrade spokesman Jack Cardetti said.

But there's a final step, called a commencement inspection, before cultivators, manufacturers and dispensaries can start up "where they actually come on site, look at your facility, make sure it has all the security that you said it was going to have, make sure it has all the promises that were made in the application were followed through on," Cardetti said.

Only two of 60 cultivators have made it through that process so far near St. Louis.

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5 Edibles You Can Make With Simple Ingredients

Preparing edibles doesn’t have to be that complicated, especially when using ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.

Preparing edibles is usually a process that takes some time and work. Unlike lighting a joint and reaping instant benefits, edibles demand a lot of care. If your edibles taste awful (here’s how to make them taste less like weed), you’ve just wasted a good amount of cannabis, which is not fun. Fortunately, we have some tips for you so this doesn’t happen.

In order to prepare edibles, it’s important to start off slowly. Cooking tends to be a trial and error process; once you add cannabis into the mix, it’s even more personal and less accurate. Before preparing any edible, you must decarboxylate. If you skip this step, your brownies are going to taste just like raw cannabis (read as: they’re gonna suck).

With the rise in baking and cooking that many of us have been experiencing in lockdown, it’s a great time to experiment with making your own edibles.

Cannabutter

Photo by ponce_photography via Pixabay

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Could CBD Treat Anxiety Symptoms Better Than Traditional Marijuana?

Current recommendations for anxiety patients is to utilize high-CBD, low-THC marijuana strains for the best results.

On the surface, using marijuana to treat anxiety symptoms seems like an obvious treatment option. Smoking a joint or eating an edible would result in relaxing times on the couch, maybe scrolling Netflix until another puff helps you fall asleep. This belief is pervasive: According to a 2017 national survey, about 47% of Americans believe marijuana helps manage anxiety.

Used effectively, marijuana can certainly benefit anxiety patients. A 2018 study in the Journal of Affective Disorders reported that about 90% of participants experienced reduction in symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression in the short term. Repeated use, however, did not cause any long-term decrease in baseline symptoms and could increase depression over time.

At high doses, however, some studies show that marijuana can worsen anxiety. This is due to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid that causes marijuana’s psychoactive effect. THC makes your heart beat faster and leads to racing thoughts, both of which can exacerbate anxiety. Sometimes, you hear someone with anxiety smoking a joint at a party, thinking it will relieve symptoms. Instead it causes them to feel worse and reject cannabis as therapeutic.

A 2015 review concluded that “current evidence indicates CBD has considerable potential as a treatment for multiple anxiety disorders.” This, in part, explain why new emphasis exists on CBD for anxiety patients in recent years. Higher doses of CBD work effectively in reducing anxiety symptoms, the review found, without any of the negative side effects associated with THC.

Can CBD Help Seniors With Insomnia?

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4 States Where Legalizing Marijuana Will Have to Wait Until 2021 or 2022

Despite all that's gone on in 2020, it's important not to lose sight of the fact that we're now less than five months away from Election Day. We'll see voters choose who'll be president of the United States for the next four years, and could even witness the current political makeup of Congress shift.

But one of the more interesting stories for 2020 is going to be which states "go green."

Currently, two-thirds of all states have legalized medical marijuana, with 11 of those states allowing for the consumption and/or sale of adult-use marijuana. With Election Day approaching, a dozen states have at least one ballot initiative devoted to cannabis, three states of which are guaranteed to have residents voting on those measures in November.

While there are a handful of states that look like near-certainties to legalize marijuana in November, there are just as many surprising disappointments. The following four states, which on the surface would look to have a good shot at legalizing adult-use cannabis in 2020, will have to wait until next year, or perhaps even 2022, to get their chance to go green.

 

An up-close view of a flowering cannabis plant.

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5 Ways Cannabis Can Help With Common Summertime Ailments

We’re all geared up to enjoy summer after months in quarantine. And while Vitamin D is great, sunburns, bug bites and overheating can be a total buzzkill. Here’s how cannabis and CBD can help.

It’s finally (almost) here: sweet, sweet, summertime! Summer is a season that’s meant to be enjoyed. From spending more time outdoors thanks to longer days, to glorious weather that makes you want to jump in the pool or drive to the beach (while taking precautions, of course), there’s a lot to love about this time of year.

But then… there’s also the other side of the seasonal debate. Summer also means extreme heat, sunburn, and bug bites, which can be a downer.  

If you want to enjoy the summer as much as possible, cannabis and CBD can help. Here’s how.

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Photo by Charles McQuillan/Stringer/Getty Images


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Nevada Gov. To Pardon Tens Of Thousands Of Marijuana Convictions

Should the resolution pass, the Nevada pardons represents growing marijuana-centric criminal justice reform occurring nationwide.

A new resolution introduced by Gov. Steve Sisolak would pardon tens of thousands of low-level marijuana offenders in Nevada, a state that voted to fully legalize cannabis in 2016. Sisolak will present the resolution to the Nevada Board of Pardons Commissioners next week. If passed, it will provide an unconditional pardon for anyone convicted of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana.

“The people of Nevada have decided that possession of small amounts of marijuana is not a crime,” Sisolak said. “If approved, this resolution will clear the slate for thousands of people who bear the stigma of a conviction for actions that have now been decriminalized.”

The Governor’s office clarified that such pardons would not apply in cases of possession with intent to sell. A bill, signed last year by Sisolak, already exists that allows low-level marijuana offenders to petition the courts to expunge their records. This new resolution would remove that bureaucratic step and pardon offenders automatically.

Sisolak first floated the resolution back in March at a Board of Pardons Commissioners meeting. Though a pardon does not overturn a conviction, it does restore various rights to offenders, including the right to vote and hold certain jobs and public office.

Nevada's Legal Weed Retail Sales

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Home Growing Tech to Cultivate Your Green Thumb

Whether you’re just a recreational user, or a patient who has been prescribed marijuana for a chronic disease or any other condition, you might have, at one point in your life, wondered if you should start growing your own cannabis plants. 

Getting a hold of your preferred strain can be a pain, especially if you live in a remote area, for example in rural Nevada. The middle of the desert is a tough spot for a quick, in-and-out dispensary pickup. Las Vegas may be a long drive and you need your medicine ASAP. 

Growing your own cannabis is a great solution for avoiding situations like the one mentioned above. After all, not only will it enable you to harvest large quantities of the stuff at a time, which lowers your dependence on third-party providers, but also help meet your needs in the best possible way; you’ll be getting exactly what you need when you need it. 

There are plenty of ways you can begin your own growing operation. Modern technology is your biggest ally. Ingenious methods of producing high-quality buds are being developed at a breakneck pace. 

For home growers, grow boxes are all the rage right now, and it seems like it will stay that way for some time to come. Here are some of the most innovative, high-tech systems that will have you harvesting your favorite strain in no time! 

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Do Women Crave Cannabis More Than Men?

When it comes to marijuana, women may feel a higher craving for it than men.

At least at the behavioral level, according to a new study. However, men and women react in much the same way at the cellular level. The reasons for this may involve estrogen, although researchers are just now beginning to understand the science behind it. 

One thing is certain: women use more marijuana now than in the past. Recent studies and statistics back this finding. For example, in 2018, Eaze reported women now make up 38 percent of all cannabis consumers. In 2020, the markets have been flooded with “women-centric cannabis products” such as low dose mints, high-end topical oils, lotions, CBD bath balms, and mini-joints with low levels of THC.

While women are buying more marijuana, a new study by the Center of Brain Health Research at the University of Texas - Dallas sought to determine if they crave it more than men. The researchers found that yes, they do, at the subjective⁠—or more accurately, at a behavioral level.

However, the study found that at the cellular level, neurons in both male and female brains responded in the same way to cannabis.

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Common Side Effects of Hemp Oil That You Should Know

Due to the popularity of cannabis products, the demand for this potent plant has increased. The health sector, as well as the beauty industry, are all talking about the benefits and integrating the compound in their products. The excitement is all about the health benefits of cannabis, especially CBD, THC, and hemp seed oil.

But rarely do they tell you about any known side effects. Luckily, some health organizations are dedicated to telling users the truth so that they can make informed decisions.

Just to let you know, hemp oil is obtained from the hemp plant's seeds and sometimes the stalk. Just like CBD, it has very little THC, which adds to the health benefits. Additionally, the oil is rich in omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids.

So, Are There Any Side Effects in the Body?

Well, a significant percentage of things that we consume have side effects. Some might be natural while others might be the result of misuse. Hemp seed oil is not an exception. It can lead to the following side effects.

·         Change in mood –When taking hemp seed oil, you might experience some changes in mood. The CBD that is present interacts with the nervous system, and this sends a variety of signals that can alter your mood. However, this is not an effect for all users. Some may not even feel any change in mood.

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Common Side Effects of Hemp Oil That You Should Know

Due to the popularity of cannabis products, the demand for this potent plant has increased. The health sector, as well as the beauty industry, are all talking about the benefits and integrating the compound in their products. The excitement is all about the health benefits of cannabis, especially CBD, THC, and hemp seed oil.

But rarely do they tell you about any known side effects. Luckily, some health organizations are dedicated to telling users the truth so that they can make informed decisions.

Just to let you know, hemp oil is obtained from the hemp plant's seeds and sometimes the stalk. Just like CBD, it has very little THC, which adds to the health benefits. Additionally, the oil is rich in omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids.

So, Are There Any Side Effects in the Body?

Well, a significant percentage of things that we consume have side effects. Some might be natural while others might be the result of misuse. Hemp seed oil is not an exception. It can lead to the following side effects.

·         Change in mood –When taking hemp seed oil, you might experience some changes in mood. The CBD that is present interacts with the nervous system, and this sends a variety of signals that can alter your mood. However, this is not an effect for all users. Some may not even feel any change in mood.

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Nevada governor announces plans to pardon small marijuana possession convictions

A resolution being drafted by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak would pardon tens of thousands of people who have been convicted for possessing small amounts of marijuana, according to a statement posted to Twitter Thursday.

"If approved, this resolution will clear the slate for thousands of people who bear the stigma of a conviction for actions that have now been decriminalized," Sisolak said on Twitter.
Purchase, possession, and consumption of recreational marijuana, with some restrictions, became legal for people over the age of 21 in Nevada on January 1, 2017, according to a state website. The proposed resolution would pardon people who have been convicted of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana.
The pardon, which would be without conditions, would not apply to convictions of possession for the purpose of sale, according to the statement.
The resolution is on the Board of Pardons Commissioners' agenda for next week, the statement said.
If the plan goes through, Nevada would join several other states in pardoning marijuana convictions following legalization of the drug.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced a "Marijuana Justice Initiative" in 2019 to expedite record clearances for thousands who were convicted of small-time possession charges. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker granted more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions one day before a sweeping law made cannabis legal in the state for people 21 and older in December.
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A new study reveals that high-potency weed won't actually get stoners any higher than regular weed

While the generally held assumption is that high-potency weed — say with a lofty THC count — will produce a higher high, a new study suggests that isn’t actually the case.

Researchers from the University of Colorado, Boulder looked to see if physical and cognitive impairment among regular cannabis users varies based on THC blood concentration. Touted as the first study to assess the acute impact of cannabis among real-world users of legal market products, it involved randomly assigning higher- or lower-THC products to 121 users.  Participants used weed they had bought on their own and consumed it in their homes before being tested.

Beyond drawing participants’ blood, their mood and intoxication levels were assessed, and their cognitive function and balance tested before, directly after and an hour after they had consumed weed.

The findings?

Smoking high-potency marijuana will boost blood levels of THC more than twice as much as conventional weed, but it doesn’t get you higher.


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Cancer And Medical Marijuana: A Patient’s Perspective

A breast cancer patient from Minnesota shares  her cancer journey and how medical marijuana has made a great deal of difference in her treatment.

“Marijuana has been used in herbal remedies for centuries. Scientists have identified many biologically active components in marijuana. These are called cannabinoids. The two best studied components are the chemicals delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (often referred to as THC), and cannabidiol (CBD). Other cannabinoids are being studied.” — American Cancer Society

With states all over the U.S. legalizing medical marijuana for those with certain conditions, many more cancer patients are not hesitating to ask their care teams if marijuana could help them through cancer treatment, recovery and beyond. 

Nancy (whose name was changed to protect her privacy), a breast cancer patient from Minnesota, shared exclusively with The Fresh Toast her cancer journey and how medical marijuana has made a great deal of difference in her treatment. When asked how marijuana had augmented her treatment, Nancy shared that while she had hesitation in the beginning, marijuana changed her life in a matter of hours. “I am able to be off my anti-nausea cocktails now. It’s pretty remarkable how medical marijuana is not only helping my nausea and appetite, but my pain as well.”

Nancy isn’t the only cancer patient who has seen a dramatic shift while taking marijuana. Time Magazine featured stories of cancer patients and the marijuana they received in their documentary, “Weed the People.” Hosted by veteran television star and producer Ricki Lake, the documentary focused on real-life examples of patients seeking alternative drugs. Lake explained, “I want to get people seeing it as a medicine, seeing what it was able to do for these children, and fight for this medicine to be available to everyone who needs it.”

cannabis during breast cancer treatment what are the benefits

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South Dakota voters to decide future of medical and recreational marijuana in the state

To legalize, or not to legalize? That is the question South Dakotans will answer when it comes to marijuana in the state. In November, voters will decide on Constitutional Amendment A and Initiated Measure 26.

Amendment A would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana as well as require laws ensuring access to medical marijuana. IM 26 would establish a medical marijuana program for qualifying patients. On Wednesday, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws held a Zoom news conference to make its case to legalize it. However, local law enforcement has questions about the implications of approving the amendment and initiated measure.

South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws want voters to say yes to cannabis in the state.

“The outright prohibition on cannabis does not work,” Brendan Johnson, former U.S Attorney and member of Better Marijuana Laws, said.

Supporters include Johnson and Chuck Parkinson , who worked for President Reagan’s administration on the frontlines of the famed War on Drugs.

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Ohio medical marijuana: Panel recommends one new qualifying medical condition

Proposals to treat autism and anxiety with medical marijuana were rejected Wednesday by a state medical board committee.

The panel recommended the full board approve one new condition: cachexia, or wasting syndrome.

Anxiety, autism spectrum disorder and cachexia had been considered to join the list of 21 qualifying medical conditions included in Ohio’s 2016 medical marijuana law.

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