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Hot off the press cannabis, marijuana, cbd and hemp news from around the world on the WeedLife Social Network.

Weed, Booze, Sex And Other Consumer Trends Likely To Continue In 2021

Americans purchased $17.9 billion in cannabis products over the past calendar year. That’s $7.2 billion more than the $10.7 billion in sales from 2019!

The pandemic helped vice businesses surge, or at least stave off the catastrophic downturns that other markets experienced.

With so many consumers staying home in accordance with social-distancing measures, they turned to new and familiar vices to cope. As a result, 2020’s market projections were thrown for a loop — setting the stage for a prosperous 2021.

Cannabis, Alcohol And Sex

Cannabis sales soared in 2020. According to Leafly, nationwide sales of medical and adult-use marijuana increased by 67% over 2019. That means Americans purchased $17.9 billion in cannabis products over the past calendar year. That’s $7.2 billion more than the $10.7 billion in sales from 2019!

The alcoholic beverage space outperformed 2020 expectations, but still saw global figures decline. Analysis firm IWSR reported that the market declined by 8% in 2020, less than the previously projected double-digit drop.Alcohol e-commerce surged in 2020 due to lockdown measures, increasing 40% across ten countries, including the U.S., U.K, Japan, Germany, Brazil and Australia.

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What's New In Cannabis Culture?

At one time, cannabis culture was easy to define, found in the pages of High Times or a Cheech and Chong movie.

As the “man” himself, Tommy Chong, reminisces “Back in the day, there was no cannabis industry, there was just weed and we called it…weed. Now you have the technology to have the cleanest, healthiest product. It’s making a healthy industry healthier, it’s really impressive. More and more people are getting involved in cannabis and seeing the medical benefits.”

Innovation and acceptance of the cannabis industry is changing demographics and thus the culture of the cannabis community is changing at a rapid pace.   

A quick story

While killing time on Facebook, because you know, there is so much time now, a friend posted a video from an event called the Canna Culture Cup hosted outside Chicago. 

 The video was exciting and fun, featuring a DJ with crazy hair spinning live under neon lights, people dancing, and of course a big fat bong popping in and out of the frame.

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Weed-using entrepreneurs find the plant both helps and hurts creativity

It’s a mix of good and bad when it comes to how weed might help entrepreneurs come up with creative and feasible business ideas, although seasoned business players with less “out-there” thoughts seem to experience fewer ups and downs.

Appearing in the Journal of Business Venturing, new research out of Washington State University (WSU) suggests that weed use “may have some benefits in the early brainstorming stages of the venture ideation process,” but it remains key to ground creativity in reality to successfully launch a new company.

Researchers considered feedback from 254 entrepreneurs who “completed a new venture ideation task, generating as many ideas for a new business as possible based on virtual reality technology,” according to a WSU article. Each entrepreneur chose his or her best idea and its originality and feasibility were rated by a panel of experts.

Although ideas — not individuals — were the focus of the current study, research published in 2017 tested whether users’ personalities or cannabis itself positively affected creativity. Relative to non-users, researchers found that while sober cannabis consumers “appear to demonstrate enhanced creativity, these effects are an artifact of their heightened levels of openness to experience.”

And a review back in 2011 suggested that using weed “produces psychotomimetic symptoms, which, in turn, might lead to connecting seemingly unrelated concepts, an aspect of divergent thinking considered primary to creative thinking.” By breaking free from ordinary thinking and associations, weed users upped the likelihood of generating novel ideas or associations.


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Can You Guess The Time Of Year When People Are Least Likely To Use Marijuana?

Marijuana use fluctuates throughout the year. A new study shows why, when and how much.

For most people, marijuana use ebbs and flows. There are weeks were you smoke a lot and others where you’re busy doing other things. New research looking into drug use over the course of a year suggests that there’s some seasonal variation; while every person’s relationship with marijuana is personal and different, there’s an arc that a lot of us follow.

A study recently published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that marijuana use drops during the start of the year and increases periodically as the seasons pass by 13%. Researchers theorize that this fluctuation might be influenced by New Year’s resolutions.

“We found that marijuana use is consistently higher among those surveyed later in the year, peaking during late fall or early winter before dropping at the beginning of the following year. We think this may be due, in part, to a ‘Dry January’ in which some people stop drinking alcohol or even stop using marijuana as part of a New Year’s resolution,” said Joseph Palamar, associate professor at NYU’s School of Medicine and lead author of the study. “We’re now in the time of year when people are the least likely to use marijuana.”


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Arizona: Recreational marijuana dispensaries battling large crowds and possible shortages

Recreational marijuana sales in Arizona officially began Friday, after the state granted 73 dispensaries a license. However, it will still be some time before you're able to buy pot in Yuma County.

 

The Arizona Department of Health Services has now approved 90 recreational marijuana dispensaries in Arizona, including Jamestown Yuma, the only dispensary in the county.

But, Jamestown Yuma says its not selling recreationally just yet. Its management wants to make sure they have enough staff and are prepared for the large crowds.

Meanwhile, Robert Smith, director of sales and marketing at Territory Dispensary in Maricopa County had all its labeling done in advance.

"We had to prepare for it could be in a few days, it could be in a few weeks," Smith said. "One way or another we had to start preparing and right away."

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No, it’s not legal to buy weed in the U.K., and, yes, it’s worse to try doing it during a pandemic shutdown

Three pals out for a late-night, cannabis shopping spree had their fun cut short when police stopped them for breaching COVID-19 lockdown rules and then learned what they had been buying was a bit of weed.

The trio — all in the same vehicle, but all from different households — was busted on the night of Jan. 22, according to the Island Echo. All were fined for breaching health regulations and one man was also cited for possessing a controlled drug.

 
 
 

 
 
 

The wish-list purchase did nothing to convince the Hampshire Constabulary officers that the men needed to be outside during COVID-19. All three were ordered to pay £200 ($348).

The coronavirus “is spreading fast. Do not leave your home unless necessary. One in three people who have the virus have no symptoms, so you could be spreading it without knowing it,” notes information from the U.K. government, which has also issued video messages emphasizing the need to stay home.

“Robust enforcement action should be taken as required, where blatant breaches in public places or private premises are reported to us,” Maggie Blyth, assistant chief constable for the Hampshire Constabulary, said in a statement after the national restrictions were reintroduced.


5 Common Problems That Plague Marijuana Users And How To Fix Them

Regular marijuana users tend to know how to get high efficiently. Still, accidents happen. Here’s how to fix them.

Seasoned marijuana users don’t tend to stumble into bad highs or a bong that smokes poorly. These people tend to be ready when it’s time to smoke, having all of the necessary tools to get high as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Still, accidents can happen, ruining your moment to get high and forcing you to look for alternatives when you’d rather do anything else.

Here are 5 of the most common problems that pester marijuana users, and how to fix them:

Running out of weed


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Smoking weed and then running out of it is a thing that rarely happens unless you’re distracted by other people, or keep your stash stored in different places (why?). It’s terrible either way. Luckily, in this day and age, you can just order some more online. And while you may have to wait a bit and loose some of that exciting buzz, the losses aren’t that great. You can stay in your couch and wait comfortably in your pajamas.

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Thailand hospital rolls out cannabis meals

From spicy “happy” salads to soups sprinkled with cannabis shoots and deep-fried marijuana leaves — a Thai hospital restaurant has rolled out a weed-inspired menu which has curious customers flocking to sample its euphoria-inducing offerings.

Since becoming the first Southeast Asian country to legalize medical marijuana in 2018, Thailand has ploughed ahead on the extraction, distillation and marketing of cannabis oil — eager to capitalize on the multibillion-dollar industry.

The plant itself was finally removed from the kingdom’s narcotics list last month, which means licensed providers — like hospitals — can now use its leaves, stems and roots in food.

This marks a return to Thailand’s culinary past, said doctor Pakakrong Kwankhao, who heads the Centre of Evidence-based Thai Traditional and Herbal Medicine in Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital.

“Putting cannabis leaves in the food is our culture,” she told Agence France-Presse Friday.

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1-gram Cannabis Flower Sales Fell in 2020 amid Pandemic, but Don't Write off the Small Packet

Sales of 1-gram cannabis flower packages tumbled in multiple North American marijuana markets last year, likely related to consumers who shopped less often because of the COVID-19 pandemic but made larger purchases when visiting a dispensary.

The shift away from 1-gram packages offers implications for both retailers and producers trying to keep up with shifting consumer preferences sparked by the pandemic. Despite the shift, the single-gram flower format – the smallest, cheapest size of marijuana bud available on the market – remains relatively popular in terms of unit sales. That suggests consumers haven’t given up on the package size altogether.

Nevertheless, the downward slide in 2020 readily is apparent in point-of-sale data from Seattle-based cannabis data-analytics firm Headset.

“I think that one of the big reasons that we see grams trending down is as a result of COVID,” said Liz Connors, Headset’s director of analytics.

Connors said the 2020 trend toward fewer sales of small cannabis packages mirrored broader trends in consumer packaged goods during the pandemic.

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Marijuana Is Replacing Alcohol During The Pandemic And May Have Long Term Benefits

No one has died from a marijuana overdose and there is no evidence of anything more lasting than embarrassment. That certainly is not the case with alcohol.  

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article solely belong to the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Fresh Toast. 

The pandemic has produced a number of social changes that we hope may last. An online Harris Poll sponsored by marijuana company Curaleaf found that 45% of cannabis consumers age 21 and up have replaced or reduced their alcohol consumption with marijuana since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, and one-third of those who use cannabis recreationally prefer cannabis to drinking alcohol. 

Half of the respondents (50%) said they increased their use because cannabis helped them relax, and 48% said they did so to help them sleep. Of those who said they use marijuana recreationally, a third (33%) said that they prefer cannabis over alcohol.

Interestingly, parents are actually turning to cannabis at higher rates than those without children. Think of the children!  

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5 benefits of hemp induced skincare products

Hemp is one of the most talked about ingredient in the beauty industry. When it comes to skincare the many benefits of hemp or hemp seed oil makes it’s a hero ingredient. It contains a very little cannabinoid, a compound often used for therapeutic purposes and help in soothing the skin and relieving inflammation. Along with essential fatty acids, hemp oil contains vitamins, minerals, and amino acids which improves skin’s health. Nowadays the buzzy ingredient is taking over the world of beauty and skincare, from hand cream and facemask to body oil, creams and cleansers, there is an array of hemp-infused products popping up in beauty supply stores everywhere.

Plabita Sharma, Beauty Training Manager, The Body Shop India lists down the top five benefits of hemp induced skincare products:

Good for sensitive to super dry skin: One of the many benefits of hemp induced skincare product is that it has been found to have significant soothing properties. Its substantial skin-soothing and skin-normalizing effects can help minimize issues related to skin sensitivity, dryness including redness and reactivity. Since all skin types are affected daily by environmental stressors, hemp seed oil soothing mechanism can help and keep everyone’s skin in check.

Rich in Antioxidant: Hemp seed oil is a rich source of antioxidant and helps in promoting repair and rejuvenation of skin. It can also protect the skin from environmental damage, such as over-exposure to sunlight which can accelerate premature sign of aging like fine lines, dark spots and more.

Promotes clearer skin: Acne is a most common concern for oily skin however incorporating a skincare product enhanced with hemp oil could mean the difference between pimple-ridden skin and a clearer complexion. Hemp oil is perfect for most skin types as it can moisturize without clogging your pores. It can even help to balance out oily skin, hydrating it and regulating the skin’s oil production. Dryness can also cause your skin to overproduce oil, which in turn, can stimulate acne. Hemp oil can prevent dry skin without clogging pores. This helps reduce acne that’s caused by excess oil.

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U.K. Anti-Doping allows seven suspended athletes to return to competition

As more sporting organizations reform their approach to drug testing, U.K. Anti-Doping (UKAD) has announced it is retrospectively shortening the bans for athletes who are suspended due to recreational drug use, reports Inside the Games.

As of Jan. 1, 2021, U.K. athletes who test positive for substances like cannabis and cocaine while out-of-competition will face three-month suspensions rather than two-year bans. The suspension could be reduced to one month if the athlete completes a treatment program.The changes bring UKAD in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s rules.

 
 
 

 
 
 

UKAD chairman Trevor Pearce toldInside the Games that a three-month ban will only be applied to athletes who test positive while out-of-competition. “If an athlete can’t prove that the drug use was out-of-competition and unrelated to sports performance, they may receive up to a four-year ban,” Pearce said.

As for athletes currently suspended over the previous rules, their suspensions will be amended to reflect the changes.

Scottish runner Luke Traynor is one of seven athletes who will now be eligible to return to their sports earlier than anticipated.

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Michigan Dispensary Gives Cannabis for COVID Vaccinations

A Michigan dispensary has come up with an incredibly creative idea to get people on board with the concept of vaccination: offer free cannabis to those willing to get the vaccine. 

Calling their promotion “Pot for Shots,” Greenhouse of Walled Lake in Michigan is determined to help up the vaccination rate and get us closer to herd immunity with this special deal. As long as you bring written proof into the store showing that you received your vaccination, you’re eligible for a free, pre-rolled joint in return for your efforts. 

“Our goal is to raise awareness of the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccination as we as a community battle this horrible pandemic,” owner Jerry Millen claims in the official press release put out by Greenhouse of Walled Lake. “‘Pot for Shots’ is our way of showing our commitment in assisting the community [in getting] back to normalcy. We support the safe and responsible use of cannabis and hope this is the beginning of the end of this insidious pandemic.”

While this is a fun way to get more business in the door thanks to the promise of a free preroll, which just about everyone can get behind, there is a deeper meaning and message behind what they are trying to do. Health officials are concerned about the amount of vaccine doubts and COVID conspiracy theories floating around, because if not enough people get vaccinated, the pandemic will last longer, and will have more of a chance to mutate into new strands that could potentially be more dangerous or harder to treat. 

Already, this type of mutation is taking place. The U.K. has seen a flare-up of a more contagious variant of COVID, and a Michigan man who recently traveled to the U.K. tested positively for this strain. Greenhouse of Walled Lake is trying to send the message that getting vaccinated is an important step for Michiganders to take. 

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How Hemp Helps You During the Winter

How Hemp Helps You During the Winter

Discover the benefits of taking hemp during the winter and how it benefits our body. 

Hemp- A Helping Hand for the Cold Winters

Winter is here and during the winter season we barely get any long sunny days, it is rather filled with long cold nights. All we want to do is lay in bed under our comfy blankets and just be lazy, wishing someone would bring us a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallow toppings.

Moreover, the gloominess outside from the pale white skies makes us depressed and we feel a lack of motivation to go by our daily routine. It is that time of the year where due to dry weather, the sale of moisturizers, lip balms, and other such products increase and become our basic need. If you think winter completely brings your spirits down then we have the perfect solution for you – Hemp.

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State marijuana dispensaries saw increase in revenue in November

After three straight months of declining sales, statewide medical marijuana dispensaries saw an increase in revenue in November.

According to the most recent data from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, statewide dispensaries remitted $11.8 million in total revenue in November, an increase of more than $1 million from the $10.7 million dispensaries remitted in October. The latest OTC marijuana data reflects data collected two months prior.

November marks the first month since July that statewide dispensaries remitted more revenue than the previous month.

Although revenue numbers from December have not been released, the revenue remitted by dispensaries in 2020 is on track to nearly double the revenue remitted in 2019. Through November, statewide dispensaries remitted more than $127 million in total revenue in 2020, compared to $73 million in all of 2019.

 

While statewide dispensaries saw a November revenue increase, Norman dispensaries saw a decrease compared to October. Norman dispensaries remitted $3.1 million in November, a decrease of $300k compared to the previous month.

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3 Reasons Why Cannabis Is a Powerful Superfood

Did you know that we’re supposed to get 5 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables every day? This equates to roughly two cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables. Although this is the recommended amount of fruit and veggies we should eat according to the USDA (United States Dietary Association), most of the American population doesn’t come close to meeting these guidelines.

Fortunately, though, another plant consumed for centuries due to its plethora of medicinal, therapeutic, and nutritional benefits is cannabis. Recently, numerous researchers and physicians have labeled cannabis a superfood, worthy of incorporation into your diet in some way or another. Here’s why.

Medicinal, therapeutic, and nutritional value 

Cannabis’s many medicinal and therapeutic benefits have been well established, but the nutritional benefits of cannabis are still gaining recognition and public coverage. According to the British Dietetic Association (BDA), superfoods are unprocessed foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, which are often derived from fruits, vegetables, and other herbs. Under this definition, numerous doctors believe cannabis can be grouped into the ‘superfoods’ category.

Besides cannabis’s array of medicinal and therapeutic benefits, the plant is an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients. In general, there are various parts of cannabis that can be consumed such as its leaves, stems, and buds whether they’re heated up or not. To reap cannabis’s nutritional benefits though, consuming raw parts of the plant is the way to go.

Superfood properties

Cannabis sativa (hemp) seeds:

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Cannabis Can Be a Tool to Fight Addictions Globally

Various cultures and countries have used cannabis for medical purposes going back thousands of years.

The cannabis plant is capable of providing tremendous wellness benefits and has been found to be an effective form of treatment for a variety of conditions.

One area that the cannabis plant can provide significant benefit, but is often overlooked, is when it comes to treating addiction to harmful substances.

Historically, cannabis has been portrayed as a ‘gateway drug,’ however, it is now being more commonly referred to as an ‘exit drug’ because of how it can help folks curb consumption of much more harmful substances.

Cannabidiol and tobacco

The World Health Organization estimated that tobacco use contributes to over 8 million deaths annually. 

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UFC announces it will no longer punish fighters for positive cannabis tests

It appears Dana White has kept his word. 

In November, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president said he was working to “loosen up” the rules when it comes to cannabis. 

As of Jan. 1,  MMA Fighting  reports that positive cannabis tests no longer trigger fines and suspensions for UFC fighters. 

The revised rules represent and agreement between the UFC and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

At least five UFC fighters have been suspended over the previous 12 months for testing positive for cannabis. 

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Cannabis Users Exercise Much More Than You Think

Because of the recent health and wellness trend, cannabis is gaining popularity for being a gluten-free, no calorie substitute for alcoholic beverages.

One of the most common stereotypes to circulate around the cannabis scene over the past several decades is that people who use marijuana are lazy, unemployed wastes of space. But according to the latest data from market research company BDS Analytics, this is not the case with the majority. In fact, it is safe to say that the average cannabis consumer — at least with respect to the modern day user in the newly legal climate — is more active and productive than anyone else in the throes of the daily grind.

Researchers at BDS found that 43% of cannabis consumers are busy with outdoors activities several times a week. This is significantly higher that non-cannabis users, according to the data. Only 25% of this group admitted to getting off their back cracks long enough to engage in activities outside the house.

Another interesting tidbit from the study is that cannabis users are more concerned about their overall health and wellness. Researchers found that around 40% regularly attend a gym or fitness center, which was about 10 points higher than non-users. This should come as no surprise. It’s like legendary stoner icon Tommy Chong once said (we’re paraphrasing, of course), “You’ve got to be in shape to do drugs, man.”

This pursuit of health and wellness is now a major trend across the United States. A recent analysis from Rabobank found that, because of this, cannabis is gaining popularity for being a gluten-free, no calorie substitute for alcoholic beverages.

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Why Strain Names Are Absolutely Meaningless

Blue Dream, Purple Haze, Girl Scout Cookies, Red Headed Stranger, Acapulco Gold, Fruity Pebbles or Pineapple Express… all classic strain names and all of them meaningless.

“Strain names are absolutely misleading with considerable variation in the same cannabinoid content among different specimens of the same strain. You can get the same color and the same smell, but actually levels of the THC and CBD and some of the other compounds could be quite different,” says Robin Marles, Ph.D., chair of the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) Botanical Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines Expert Committee.

USP has assembled an expert panel of clinicians, scientists and industry representatives from around the world to provide necessary information and guidance on critical quality attributes, including recommendations for naming , all laid out in an article in the Journal of Natural Products, Cannabis Inflorescence for Medical Purposes: USP Considerations for Quality Attributes.

“USP recommendations are entirely focused on the inflorescence of the cannabis plant, popularly known as the flower or ‘the bud.’ And as with any plant product, the first challenge was to determine how to classify the various varieties and subtypes that are currently in use.” said Ikhlas Khan, Ph.D., USP’s Cannabis Expert Panel chair.

USP has elected to recognize cannabis as a single plant species, Cannabis sativa L., with different varieties or subtypes that can then be classified based on their THC and CBD content. The expert panel provided guidance for organizing the plant material into three “chemotype” categories: THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, or intermediate varieties that contain physiologically meaningful levels of both – intending to give prescribers or consumers greater clarity about what substances they are using.

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