WeedLife News Network

While CBD is the major player in treating an illness like severe seizures, it’s really an entourage effect that makes the compound work.

Ever since the 2018 Farm Bill passed in the U.S., CBD has been a hot topic, to say the least. The legislation, which effectively legalizes industrial hemp, significantly opened the market for hemp-derived CBD. From cosmetics to salves to tinctures and more, it seems CBD is infused into everything these days.

In many ways, the CBD craze has gotten ahead of itself. Mainstream media and wellness experts praise cannabidiol as the swan of the cannabis plant, dismissing the rest of the cannabinoids as ugly ducklings. Consumers unfamiliar with cannabis may gravitate toward pure CBD extract, as CBD is often associated with many of marijuana’s health benefits.

But while CBD is the major player in treating an illness like severe seizures, it’s really an entourage effect that makes the CBD work. The entourage effect, for those unfamiliar, is that individual cannabinoids, like CBD, increase their efficacy when working in conjunction with other cannabinoids, like THC or CBN. This is true even when the presence of those other cannabinoids is minimal. The whole in this equation is greater than the sum of its parts.

While CBD is a powerful extract, it’s important for consumers to understand they could be losing some potency when choosing hemp-derived pure CBD vs. cannabis-derived CBD, which may contain low doses of THC.

With the legalization of the recreational cannabis industry in Illinois, the cannabis accessory industry has seen an uptick in Carbondale.

The Legal Smile CBD wellness and head shop opened on the south end of Carbondale in May 2019. Shop owner Jacob Buckman said, as to be expected, his business has seen an uptick since recreational cannabis became legal Jan. 1. But he said he’s also been able to expand.

Next door to his pipe shop is Soil Grown, a cannabis and CBD grow store. They offer everything from soil blends, to pots, to lights, to nutrients for those medical cannabis patients who are now legally allowed to grow — recreational users are not permitted to grow for personal use under the law.

“It’ll be another booming expansion (of the cannabis industry),” Buckman said of the accessory and grow businesses.

Some in Carbondale might have noticed some work being done at the old El Greco location on the strip. Chan Patel owns the building and operates Old Town Liquor next door. He said he, too, is looking to open up a cannabis accessory store.

Inhaling hot smoke during the summer is not the most pleasant of activities. Here are 5 things you can do to get high while battling the heat.

While in the midst of a pandemic, summer has become even more special, providing some much needed escape for people who want to leave their homes and hang out in the open air without fear of cluttered spaces with poor ventilation that facilitate stress and the spread of the virus.

Smoking weed in the summer is tough, especially on those really hot days. While there are some people who don’t mind smoking when it’s 90 degrees out, a lot of people prefer to have something cool that makes them feel like they’re not melting. Still, there are a dozen ways to consume weed and making the most of the summer without inhaling hot smoke.

Here are 5 ways to enjoy cannabis during the warmer months:

Smoke near air conditioning

While it’s nice to take advantage of the season and of those really warm days, sometimes it’s okay to stay home and enjoy your AC unit. Beach days are great, but so are days spent getting high, watching a good movie or playing a board game, preparing a meal, reading a book, etc. Weed is flexible like that.

Thanks to antioxidants, CBD can help fight free-radical damage and even reduce some of your wrinkles. That’s why skincare companies often include the compound in their products.

Hoping to turn back the clock a few years?

OK, that may be scientifically impossible, but thanks to CBD, you may be able to take a few years off of your skin. It’s true! Thanks to antioxidants, CBD can help fight free-radical damage and even reduce some of your wrinkles. That’s why skincare companies everywhere are starting to include CBD in their products.

Of course, CBD isn’t a miracle worker and more research is needed to confirm its anti-aging properties. In the meantime, here’s everything you need to know about CBD and anti-aging, and how it can help you look and feel your best as you continue to blow out more candles on your birthday cake.

Photo by JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images

The recent study was conducted at the St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and the Emerald Clinics (EMD) in Perth, suggests cannabis is a safe option for patients to integrate into their current pain treatment.

That includes patients who already consume high doses of opioids.

The company administered its ZTL-103, a 1:1 THC/CBD formulation to chronic pain (non-cancer) patients who used at least 60 milligrams of morphine or similar opioids daily. After a two-week dosing period, patients reported reduced levels of pain, stress, depression and anxiety, while experiencing no serious side effects.

“This study not only reinforces that cannabis can be safely administered in increasing amounts to treat pain, but can be safely taken concurrently with high daily doses of opioids,” says Zelira CEO Dr. Oludare Odumosu. “These promising results lay the groundwork for our further study on pain management among retired athletes.”

This trial aimed to assess the safety of Zelira’s cannabis formulation, ZTL-103, in patients with chronic pain who are already on long-term, high-dose opioid treatment. 

A marijuana high typically lasts for a couple of hours, but the THC stays in your system much longer—as in, weeks longer. This fact can be annoying for anyone who has to undergo drug testing. Nobody wants to subject themselves to a 30-day pot detox just so they can keep their job or avoid legal trouble.

So why does THC stay in your system for so long? And is there anything you can do about it?

What Is THC?

For a quick primer, THC is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. It’s one of over 100 cannabinoids found in marijuana. Cannabinoids are the compounds that bind to the body’s natural cannabinoid receptors, and these interactions are what cause the well-known physical and physiological effects of marijuana.

For most marijuana users, THC is the most important cannabinoid; it’s the psychoactive compound that gets you high. But it’s also the compound that conventional urine, blood, and hair tests look for. That means it can come back to haunt you long after your smoke session is a distant memory.

How Long Does THC Stay Inside the Body?

If you’re a regular user, THC may be detectable in your system for a full month, sometimes longer. Some research has even detected cannabis a full 90 days after the user’s last toke. On the flip side, there are instances when THC is only detectable for about 48 hours after use.

For many people, coffee is a crucial part of their morning routine (read: I can't function without large quantities of caffeine). While coffee can feel like magical get-stuff-done juice, too much of a good thing can leave you jittery, anxious, and seriously over-caffeinated. 

Cannabidoil (CBD), a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, can help solve that problem according to some consumers. Currently, CBD can be found in all kinds of products, from pet treats to skincare to CBD lattes at your local coffee shop. And CBD-infused beverages have made an especially large impact — Zenith Global projects that the market for CBD and hemp infused drinks will grow to over $1.4 Billion by 2024. 

Of the drinkable CBD products currently sold, CBD coffee is one of the most popular. Over the last several years, the number of coffee shops and cafés offering different CBD-infused coffee and espresso drinks has noticeably increased. For the dedicated coffee-drinker, the appeal seems obvious: all the focus and productivity of a solid caffeine rush without the impending doom of potential overindulgence. 

What is CBD Coffee?

CBD coffee, as you probably guessed, is a combination of coffee and cannabidoil. It can include different ingredients and be made into regular hot coffee, cold brew, and various other types of drinks. Coffee shops that offer CBD-infused options typically add CBD oil to coffee after it's brewed, while coffee brands add CBD (often in isolate form) to the coffee beans themselves. 

The amount of CBD per cup of joe will vary, but it's important to only buy from trusted retailers. Since CBD beverages are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, companies don't always disclose how their CBD is extracted or exactly how many milligrams are in each serving. 

Cannabis sales in Colorado set a new monthly record in May, reaching their highest level since broad legalization in 2014.

Dispensaries sold over $192 million worth of cannabis products that month, according to data from the state Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division compiled by The Denver Post. That figure is up about 29% from April and 32% from May 2019.

Sales at medical and recreational marijuana shops hit monthly all-time highs, with just under $43 million and just over $149 million, respectively.

In all, the cannabis industry has sold more than $779 million in products so far this year and paid more than $167 million in taxes and fees to the state.

Colorado dispensaries were deemed essential businesses during the early days of the pandemic when there were statewide stay-at-home orders. So far, monthly cannabis sales this year have consistently outpaced 2019, which was the highest-grossing year on record.

As Michigan's marijuana industry blooms, prices of both medical and recreational marijuana have steadily dropped.

According to the latest reporting from the state's Marijuana Regulatory Agency, the price per ounce of recreational marijuana was $516.21 in December, when the sales first started, and dropped to $409.76 in May, the most recent month that MRA reported. Meanwhile, medical marijuana was $267.30 per ounce in December and dropped to $251.50 in May. 

As of July 15, the state has authorized cultivators to grow 511,500 plants, a 20% increase from about two months earlier. The price of pot is expected to continue to drop as more licenses are granted, but MRA Director Andrew Brisbo says that the agency wants to avoid them falling too far. "What we need to be cautious about and be wary of is what happened in Oregon," he told MLive, "where the scale shifted and there was oversupply, because then the price kind of bottoms out."

In the past few years, the price of marijuana in Oregon plummeted due to a supply surplus, becoming the nation's cheapest weed. (One study found it would take at least six years for the state's 4 million residents to smoke the entire stock. Due to federal prohibition of marijuana, it's not possible to simply export it to other states.)

This year, the price of marijuana began to climb again in Oregon, due in part growers going out of business because of the supply-and-demand issues. 

Cannabis use continues to increase in popularity among adults 65 years of age and older in the United States. With the legalization of cannabis in many states for either medical or recreational purposes, there is growing interest in using it to treat a variety of long-term health conditions and symptoms common among older adults.   

More than ever, cannabis use is on the rise for seniors. Legalization has given seniors more access to information that has helped to soften their harsh views of weed and create curiosity where there was once only disdain.

Yet, even with more material about cannabis becoming mainstream some seniors may still struggle to bridge the gap between their interest and their apprehension when it comes to actually going to a dispensary to buy cannabis for themselves.

Sue Taylor remembers a time when propaganda promoting the fear of marijuana was at a fever pitch — she admits that she used to think cannabis was “just as bad” as heroin or cocaine.

“I never had any intention of getting involved in the cannabis industry. You know, ‘Reefer Madness’ really did a number on me and my generation.” Taylor says. “I was taught that it was a very bad drug that made people do bad things — especially Black people. And, at the time, I believed it.”

A sound explanation comes from a report by the World Health Organization, which examined many, many aspects of CBD, including its potential for abuse.

With CBD pens, edibles, shatter, medicines and oils continuing to crop up across the United States and around the world, a vehement anti-cannabis strain of people look for the “bad” in anything marijuana. That extends to cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-psychoactive wonder component of the cannabis plant.

In all reality, a completely reasonable person with no experience with marijuana besides what’s been institutionally taught could also wonder the same thing. People are puffing on CBD vape pens left and right and pretty much every retailer in America offers some type of CBD product. If it’s so appealing so often, is it habit forming?

The simple answer is. A sound explanation comes from a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), which examined many, many aspects of CBD, including its potential for abuse. “Single dose administration of cannabidiol has been evaluated in healthy volunteers using a variety of tests of abuse potential as well as physiological effects in a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial,” reads the report.

“An orally administered dose of 600mg of CBD did not differ from placebo on the scales of the Addiction Research Centre Inventory, a 16 item Visual Analogue Mood Scale, subjective level of intoxication or psychotic symptoms,” in continued.

Legislation to wipe convictions for possession of small amounts cannabis off the records was tabled in the House of Assembly.

The Expungement of Convictions Act was designed to remove the stigma of past convictions for people who were caught with small amounts of the drug before it was decriminalised three years ago.

Kathy Lynn Simmons, the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, said cannabis laws had penalised young black men and damage their education and job prospects.

Ms Simmons added the 2017 Misuse of Drugs (Decriminalisation of Cannabis) Amendment Act decriminalised possession of 7g or less of cannabis.

She said on Friday: “At the time, the wider social justice policy objective was to discontinue the longstanding practice of criminalising individuals for personal cannabis use.

In early September 2019, President Trump expressed an urgency to ban vaping products.

In the wake of this announcement, the Center for Drug Control (CDC) reported that 1,299 confirmed and probable lung injury cases were associated with e-cigarette or vaping products.

In addition, the CDC confirmed 26 deaths related to vaping products. However, this wasn’t the first instance of bad press for vaping.

A History of the Vaping Crisis

Like many of today’s technologies, vaping and e-cigarettes seemed to skyrocket in popularity overnight. The credit is largely due to Juul.

Founded in 2015, the company set out to develop a cigarette alternative for those trying to wean themselves off of smoking. Since then, the company has become a verb, and in 2017 claimed over a third of the e-cigarette market, generating $224 million in revenue.

According to a new report by The Denver Post, marijuana sales in Colorado set a new monthly record in May. The sales in May break a record that’s been in place since legal sales begin way back in 2014.

According to the report, licensed legal marijuana retail outlets and medical marijuana dispensaries sold $192,175,937 worth of products in May. This is based on data from the Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division. The Denver Post notes that these numbers mark 29% from April and an increase of 32% from May 2019.

Sales at both medical and recreational pot shops hit monthly all-time highs, at $42,989,322 and $149,186,615, respectively. Collectively, both sectors have sold more than $779 million in 2020 and paid more than $167 million in taxes and fees to the state.

Roy Bingham, co-founder and executive chairman of BSDA analytics firm, said a confluence of several factors caused by the pandemic are likely causing the increase in sales. For one, many people may have more leisure time and are spending more time at home, where cannabis is typically consumed. Existing marijuana consumers also are buying more each time they go to the dispensary, a trend that started with stocking up in March when Colorado went under a statewide stay-at-home order.

“Everyone has perhaps become more used to consuming a little more,” Bingham said.

Exposure to THC led to decreased social interactions for up to 24 hours in mice, new research found.

Studies have shown that marijuana can help patients feel less lonely and depressed, but that doesn’t equate to cannabis making you a social butterfly. In fact, a new study found the opposite — habitual marijuana use could cause users to become less sociable than others.

The research, published in Nature, was led by Giovanni Marsicano at NeuroCentre Magendie in Bordeaux, France. His team wanted to better understand how cannabinoid receptors works and how they interact with marijuana compounds. Previous studies established that cannabinoid receptors are primarily localized in the cell membrane.

But Marsicano and his team discovered in 2012 that some receptors exist in mitochondria, which are known as the powerhouses of the cell and provide much of the energy cells need. Along the mitochondria membrane lie little star-shaped cells called astrocytes. These astrocytes “take up glucose from the bloodstream to provide energy to the brain, thereby allowing neuronal activity and behavioral responses,” wrote the study’s authors.

Mariscano and his team had an idea: If these astrocytes contained cannabinoid receptors, how exactly did they interact with marijuana?

Cannabis sales in Colorado set a new monthly record in May, reaching their highest level since broad legalization in 2014.

Dispensaries sold over $192 million worth of cannabis products that month, according to data from the state Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division compiled by The Denver Post. That figure is up about 29% from April and 32% from May 2019.

Sales at medical and recreational marijuana shops hit monthly all-time highs, with just under $43 million and just over $149 million, respectively.

In all, the cannabis industry has sold more than $779 million in products so far this year and paid more than $167 million in taxes and fees to the state.

Colorado dispensaries were deemed essential businesses during the early days of the pandemic when there were statewide stay-at-home orders. So far, monthly cannabis sales this year have consistently outpaced 2019, the highest-grossing year on record.

Homegrown Kush connoisseurs are being tapped to test an array of primo pot products as Illinois prepares to play host to a socially distanced version of the vaunted High Times Cannabis Cup later this summer.

High Times hosted the first Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam in 1988 and the event has since became a staple of stoner culture, with cannabis icons like Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa performing and serving as testers at recent incarnations of the bacchanal.

In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the restrictions on large gatherings that followed, the pot-centric publication launched virtual versions of the event in other states this spring.

Now, just months after marijuana was fully legalized statewide, members of the public will have the chance to “identify and award the best cannabis products in all of Illinois,” High Times said on its website. Medical cannabis patients over the age of 18 and anyone 21 years or older can serve as a tester.

“This event will be the first-ever competition that is open to the Illinois public and will see the largest pool of judges in history,” according to the pot-centric publication.

A recent report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that tracked the cannabinoid content of CBD products over the past six years shows nearly half of all products tested were mislabeled.

The products tested ran the gamut from oils to capsules, gummies, topicals, conventional food items and pet treats, among others. Two products were referred to the Drug Enforcement Agency after lab analysis revealed that one product, a CBD oil capsule, contained 16 mg/g of THC and another, a CBD gummy, tested positive for a synthetic cannabinoid. 

The FDA took into account several factors when choosing which products to test, but most prominent, were products that made “serious disease claims,” the report notes. 

Of 78 products tested from 2014 to 2018, cannabinoids were detected in 88 per cent and 86 per cent were found to contain CBD. A report of 23 CBD products tested in 2014 found that just 35 per cent were consistent with the amount of labeled CBD. “Many of the products contained THC and/or other cannabinoids,” the report states. 

Additionally, 31 products from 2019 were tested for cannabinoids, with 21 of those products specifying an amount of CBD on the label. Of those 21 products, only seven contained CBD within 20 per cent of the amount indicated, the report notes. Nearly half of the 2019 products tested contained THC.

Since the wonders of Hemp were introduced to the world, people have been constantly exploring the many ways it can be used for the benefit of a lot of people. The most significant would be in the world of medicine and pharmacology where it can be used to manage chronic diseases and even mental illnesses. Its effectiveness in managing pain stemming from these health problems has triggered the interest of the beauty industry. Many now have utilized Hemp into forms that can be used to enhance their physical well being. With the many revolutionary products that can be introduced to your beauty routine, Hemp can successfully help you in maintaining that fresh looking skin and glow. There are seven ways you can totally do that. 

Cleansing Your Skin

Before applying any product on your skin, you must have to make sure that it is clean first so you don’t push dirt and oil back to the skin. There are so many products in the market that promise the best cleansing formulas, but most of these are just composed of strong chemicals that can be bad for your skin. Since Hemp is extracted from natural sources, you can expect that a soap derived from it is going to be good for your skin. Choose a cleansing soap that is unscented and mild so it doesn’t irritate the skin, especially the face where it is most sensitive. Hemp Seed Oil Soaps are very mild and have that creamy texture that can feel indulgent on the skin. They are also infused with essential oils that can leave a layer of moisture so it doesn’t feel dry and itchy. 

Moisturizing and Nourishing

As people get older, the natural moisture and suppleness of the skin fade and it becomes brittle and prone to damage and wrinkles. This is one of the most emphasized importance of having a beauty routine that will retain the natural moisture in the skin without having other unnatural ingredients. There are various formulations of Hemp face creams that can address these problems with aging and lack of moisture along with other skin problems. It can help in managing oil production to help people who are prone to breakouts. Products with this substance can balance out the skin so you don’t have to suffer from problems such as acne, premature aging, and others. 

From Hair to Toes

Your beauty regimen shouldn’t just focus on one area of the body, but you should take into account everything from the hair to the toes. The hair is considered to be the crowning glory of a person while the condition of the nails is often an indication of health. If you choose a product with Hemp for your hair, then choose a pair for both cleansing and conditioning. You should never skimp on shampoo to remove dirt and excess oil, but you should choose something mild as not to strip the scalp with its natural oils. Similarly, a conditioner will make your hair more shiny and manageable so it looks lovely and not dull. When it comes to your nails and body, choose lotions and other topics like healing balms infused with Hemp to soothe any itch and protect it from the environment. 

Beauty From Inside Out

You can never achieve your best beauty when you only focus on the outside and disregard what’s on the inside. Since Hemp is primarily for the health and wellness of the body, it is still best to take care of your beauty while being careful in the things you take in. In choosing what to buy from a head shop, it is not enough that you only get products for your skin regimen, but also incorporate products that can help you detoxify and manage your stress from your daily life. Dried Hemp herbs are great for your tea or mixed with your other food so you can reap its health benefits. It’s not just a great car, but also a natural way to maintain overall health.